Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic says it's important that he's now putting down roots.

The Croatia international signed permanently this summer from Real Madrid.

Kovacic told chelseafc.com, "Of course it's better to have consistency in your position. To move around the pitch is not so good, when you're playing one year there, and another year there.

"That has also been a bit of a problem in my career. Everything happened too fast for me. I had three great and difficult years in Madrid. I played, didn't play, I didn't get the continuity that I needed and what I have now here.

"I enjoyed it, we won three Champions Leagues, but Chelsea is coming in the best moment of my career. It has been the most important switch for now and I'm really pleased with that."