The 21-year-old's three-year contract with the Latics was completed minutes before the deadline closed on Tuesday. Di Santo arrived in England from Chilean side Audax Italiano in 2008 for £3m but made just eight Barclays Premier League appearances for Chelsea - and never started a match.

right direction

"I think I needed to come to Wigan Athletic at this point in my career," he said. "Chelsea are a fantastic club but I didn't have too many opportunities there, so I'm very happy to have made this move.

"At my age I need to be playing regular football so it's an important move for me and I hope to earn a place in the team and then try my hardest to stay there.

"Tuesday was a bit tense because we got to the last 10-15 minutes of the deadline and the transfer still hadn't gone through.

He added:"In the end all the paperwork went through and the move was complete - it was a great feeling.

"There were some other offers at the time but Wigan was the move I wanted.

"I wanted to stay in England, in the best league in the world and join a club that is moving in the right direction.

"So together with my family and friends I decided this was the right move for me."