Chelsea boss Frank Lampard admits Thaigo Silva adds the experience his team needs.
The Blues have a lot of young players, and they have made several high profile signings this summer.
Silva is 35 and joining on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
He played in a Champions League final this month and has a wealth of experience at international level as well.
"With Thiago Silva, we are looking at a player I know very well, pretty much as we all do," Lampard told the club's website.
"He brings great experience for us, he is still playing at a massively high level, as we saw in the Champions League final and games towards the final, so I expect him to come and bring that, bring his experience, leadership and his qualities. It is going to be very important for us.
"We have a relatively young squad, we saw that last year, there were games afterwards when I was probably asking for more voice and some more leadership in different ways and he brings that naturally straightaway, and also on the pitch he can help talk and be the player that he is which means affecting others. On those levels I hope he brings that.
"I am pretty sure he will with the qualities we know he has, so I am excited for when he joins up."
