Chelsea have confirmed their long-anticipated capture of Florent Malouda, the France winger. The 27-year-old successfully completed a medical yesterday and has signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea agreed a £13.5 million fee with Lyons, the French champions.
Malouda will fly out to Los Angeles today to join the rest of the squad for their three-game pre-season tour of the United States, where he will be reunited with former Lyons team-mates Michael Essien and Didier Drogba.
“I really felt that everyone at Chelsea wanted me,” Malouda said. “Didier Drogba [the Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward] pushed a little, even a lot, but it was all clear from the beginning that they liked me. There is [Mourinho], also, who wanted me really, and then the life in London, because it was important that my family can feel well.”
Malouda also revealed that he rejected the opportunity to join Liverpool. “I had people on the telephone, coaches, especially Rafael Benitez [the Liverpool manager]. But I had the impression that there was only one club that really wanted me.”
Chelsea’s new recruit was part of the France team that made it to the final of last year’s World Cup in Germany and has accumulated 30 caps in all, scoring three goals. He won the French championship four times with Lyons and was voted the best player in the French first division in 2006-07.
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Malouda is Chelsea’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizarro and Tal Ben Haim on free transfers.