Chelsea have confirmed their long-anticipated capture of France
winger Florent Malouda.
The 27-year-old successfully completed a medical yesterday and has
signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge after the Blues agreed
an undisclosed fee with French champions Lyon.
He will fly out to Los Angeles today to join the rest of the squad
for their three-game pre-season tour of the US.
Malouda 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.
Both Chelsea and Lyon revealed on Sunday that a fee had been
agreed, with the French club's president Jean-Michel Aulas
insisting: 'It (the deal) is brilliant and it is good news for
Flo.'
Malouda will team up with former team-mates Michael Essien and
Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have confirmed that defender Khalid Boulahrouz
will not travel across the Atlantic as negotiations with several
clubs over a transfer continue.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech, meanwhile, looks set to continue wearing his
protective headguard following his fractured skull suffered against
Reading last season.
He told Czech newspaper Sport: 'The doctors recommended to me to
wear it also in the next season.
'It would be better if they said that I could take it off, but on
the other hand there is no sense in risking. I have no problem with
it, I got used to it very quickly.'
