Finally !
BBC report : Blues beat deadline to sign
Cole
Chelsea have ended a long-running saga by signing England defender
Ashley Cole from Arsenal in exchange for £5m and defender William
Gallas.
The deal was completed just before the transfer deadline with Cole,
who was with the England squad in a Manchester hotel, having his
medical nearby.
Cole is believed to have signed a five-year deal worth £90,000 per
week.
Chelsea had been linked with Cole, 25, all summer, but
disagreements over the transfer fee stalled the move.
A joint statement from the clubs said: "Chelsea FC and Arsenal have
agreed terms for the transfers of Ashley Cole and William
Gallas.
"Chelsea will also pay Arsenal £5m. Both players have agreed
personal terms and passed their respective medicals."
Although all the relevant paperwork had been lodged with the
Premier League, neither club had made an announcement by the time
the midnight deadline passed.
It was not until 0125 BST on Friday that the statement was finally
issued.
