Blues sanction Khalid exit
13 Jul 2007 - 07:49:07
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- Blues sanction Khalid exit
Chelsea have agreed to loan defender Khalid Boulahrouz to Spanish side Sevilla for the duration of next season.
The 25-year-old Holland international was left behind when the Blues jetted off on their pre-season tour of the USA as his advisors put the finishing touches on a move away from Stamford Bridge less than 12 months after signing for the club.
Boulahrouz, who cost Chelsea £7million when he signed from Hamburg last summer, struggled to adapt to the Premier League during his debut season and was often overlooked by manager Jose Mourinho.
The former RKC Waalwijk centre-half started just ten league matches last season and was expected to leave Stamford Bridge following the summer arrival of Tal Ben Haim from Bolton Wanderers.
Mourinho often preferred to play midfielder Michael Essien as a makeshift central defender during captain John Terry's lengthy absence through injury last term.
"Chelsea and Sevilla have reached an agreement for the one-year loan," confirmed a club statement.
Meanwhile, Chelsea continue to be linked with a £14million move for Sevilla's highly-rated Brazilian full-back Daniel Alves.