Jose Mourinho has revealed the first in Chelsea's transfer window dealings with the departure of third choice keeper Mark Schwarzer to Leicester City.
The veteran Australian, brought in as cover in summer 2013, has been knocked down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge since the return of Thibaut Courtois from his loan to Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho said: “First of all I want to say public all thank Mark Schwarzer who is leaving us and he was a fantastic guy for us.
“As a goalkeeper when we needed him, he was there for us, and as a person and a professional he was an amazing guy in our group.
“On behalf of my staff and players I want to say we are going to miss the big guy and we wish him all the best in his new life at Leicester City.”
The 42-year-old made just 12 appearances for Chelsea following his move across west London from Fulham – where he played for five years, and was regarded as one of the greatest keepers in the club's history.
With Peter Cech sidelined through injury, Schwarzer played both legs of the Blues' unsuccessful Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
On a replacement, Mourinho said: “I won't be bringing in a new goalkeeper - Jamal Blackman will return from Middlesbrough on loan.
“He was not playing for them, so for us he is a young English goalkeeper who will go into our Champions League squad as an U21 and stay and compete with Thibaut Courtois and Cech.
“So there is no chance that Cech will be leaving in the January transfer window.”
Blackman, 21, from Croydon, joined Chelsea as a 12-year-old, and worked his way up through the Blues' youth structure.
He moved on loan to Middlesbrough last summer but played only one game – the 2-2 League Cup draw with Liverpool, which resulted in an extraordinary 14-13 penalty shoot out defeat for 'Boro.
