Slobodan Rajkovic leaves Chelsea for Hamburg

Chelsea defender Slobodan Rajkovic has joined Hamburg on a four-year-deal.

The Serbian joined the Blues as a 16-year-old in 2005 but has failed to gain a UK work permit, despite featuring at national level.

He had reportedly impressed Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas in pre-season and the Portuguese manager was keen to integrate Rajkovic into the first team.

Chelsea hoped a new work permit appeal this month would succeed, but that looks to have failed and they are now accepting that he has no future at Stamford Bridge.

The 22-year-old said: "I've just arrived and don't want to make any big promises, but I can promise I will always give my best, always 100%, for the team."

Since former Chelsea official Frank Arnesen arrived in Hamburg to become director of sports, the Bundesliga club has signed five young players from his former club.

The other four are Jeffrey Bruma, Michael Mancienne, Gokhan Tore and Jacopo Sala.