Blues clinch Malouda deal
10 Jul 2007 - 09:26:56
Chelsea have completed the signing of Lyon winger Florent Malouda on a four-year contract, in a deal reportedly worth around £13million.
The 27-year-old left-winger has flown out with his new team-mates for the pre-season tour of the USA, having passed a Stamford Bridge medical to seal his switch from the French champions.
He becomes the fourth new signing by the Blues this summer, following the arrivals of Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizarro and Tal Ben Haim.
Malouda had been with Lyon for four seasons, having earlier featured for Chateauroux and Guingamp.
He has won around 30 caps for his country and was part of the squad which reached the World Cup final in 2006.
Blues chief executive, Peter Kenyon, had earlier said: "We've not gone for big signings and not got them, we have our list and have three out of the four on the list.
"There is money and we're going to spend that money on Malouda."
Meanwhile, midfielder Sidwell is looking to make his mark with the Blues following his move from Reading earlier in the summer.
He said: "After speaking to the manager, he did say I was going to get a chance and I wasn't here simply to make up the numbers.
"All I want is an opportunity to play at the highest level that I can. He said I'll get that here and hopefully I'll take that with both hands."