"We have no control..." - Player admits Arsenal's rivals were stunned by unexpected transfer

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has admitted he was surprised that the club agreed to sell Jorginho to rivals Arsenal.

Jorginho, 31, made the move across London in a shock transfer on deadline day.

Arsenal signed the Italy international after failing to recruit Moises Caicedo from Brighton.

Jorginho, who had just six months left on his previous contract at Chelsea, is believed to have signed a deal with Arsenal until the summer of 2024 - with the club holding an option to extend it by a further year.

He has left Stamford Bridge after four-and-a-half years, during which time he made 213 appearances for the club, scoring 29 times.

Silva stunned by Jorginho transfer

Jorginho won the Champions League, Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time with Chelsea.

And veteran defender Silva admits he was surprised to see the Italian leave for Arsenal.

"[It was to] a direct rival. But that's football stuff, it happens," he told ESPN Brazil.

"He would like to stay in England because he has family nearby.

"These are things we have no control over, but we also have to understand the player's side of things.

"I know we have a lot of work ahead of us, we lost one of our great leaders in the dressing room, Jorginho, a guy who spoke a lot.

"There will be this gap, but we have to move on.

"We didn't expect him to leave and he did. Now we have to make up for his absence in the best way possible."

Jorginho could make his debut for Arsenal when the Premier League leaders take on Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Later in the season, he could come up against his former club Chelsea when they travel to the Emirates on April 29 in the final weeks of the campaign.