Name: Oriol Romeu
Nationality: Spanish
Date of Birth: 24/09/1991
Previous
Clubs: Barcelona
Position: Midfielder
Chelsea career
Oriol Romeu Vidal joined from Barcelona in August 2011, signing a four-year-contract.
Primarily a deep-lying midfielder, the 6ft Catalan can also play in central defence and is renowned for his strength and his expansive passing ability.
At the time of his arrival, Andre Villas-Boas said: 'It is a part of the squad in which we are struggling with numbers because of Michael Essien's injury and Oriol is a player with a bright future. He still has to evolve as a player.
'The Barcelona B team had a magnificent year in the Spanish second division, they finished third. Oriol had an injury during the season but he came back late on and was in time to play for the first team. So he is one of the most promising young players in that position.'
Romeu made his debut as a late substitute in our 2-1 win at Sunderland in early September, and followed that up with 90 minutes against Fulham in the Carling Cup.
Pre-Chelsea
Romeu began with Barcelona's smaller neighbours Espanyol before joining the famous Camp Nou academy in 2004, progressing through the ranks until a reserve team regular playing in Spain's second tier under former Spain international Luis Enrique.
Having overcome a knee injury during the season, he made his La Liga debut for the senior Barça side at the end of the 2010/11 campaign, coming on as a late substitute in a 0-0 draw against Deportivo La Coruna, having also appeared at the beginning of the campaign in a Spanish Supercup loss away at Sevilla.
International career
He was a runner-up with Spain in the European Championships at Under 19 level in 2010, beaten in the final by Gael Kakuta's France.
Aged 19, he was part of the Spain team that was competing in the Under 20 World Cup squad in Colombia at the time the move was finalised. They reached the quarter-finals before losing on penalties to eventual champions Brazil.
Oriol received an Under 21 call-up for the autumn internationals.
