Essien finally signs for Chelsea!

[davidmphill]

The small sum of £24.4m!

Lyon midfielder Michael Essien has finally completed his move to Premiership champions Chelsea.


Essien's agent, Fabien Piveteau, has told BBC Sport that Essien, 22, has agreed personal terms on a five-year deal with the west London outfit.

He added that the clubs had earlier agreed a fee of 36 million Euros (£24.4m) for the Ghana international.

Chelsea are expected to unveil the player at a news conference at their Cobham training ground at 1245 BST.

The Premiership champions have confirmed the deal in a statement on their official website.

"Chelsea can confirm it has now reached an agreement with Lyon for the transfer of Michael Essien.

"Michael has also agreed personal terms and passed a medical. The transfer is a club record for Chelsea and we would all like to welcome Michael to the club."

Essien has said he does not believe he is worth the fee Chelsea have paid to buy him from Lyon.

"I know what I'm worth as a footballer and it's clear that I'm not worth (£24.4m) but that's football business," he told French magazine France Football.

Whilst he's good, he's not worth that much From R Have your say on 606

"As soon as Chelsea expressed interest, I wanted to go," added Essien.

Lyon's hand was forced when the Ghana international refused to sign a new deal with the French champions and then refused to play for them.

"It was impossible for me to stay (at Lyon)," he said.

"I can perfectly understand (Lyon president) Jean-Michel Aulas. He defended his club's interests but I defended mine.

"I'm very excited to be joining Chelsea. It's a dream come true."

Chelsea pursued Essien all summer, and had bids of £10m, £16.75m, £18m, £21m and £21m plus Tiago turned down.

But the midfielder will now become the Blues' record signing, exceeding the £24m they paid Marseille for Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba last summer.

Maybe I'll play a few minutes against Arsenal Michael Essien

Essien was due to make his first appearance of the new season in London on Wednesday, when Ghana played a friendly against Senegal at Brentford.

But although he attended the game, he did not play, to the displeasure of Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic.

However, Essien is hopeful he may make his Premiership bow on Sunday against Arsenal. "Maybe I'll play a few minutes," he said.

[Bruise Pristene]

the whole thing has got to be one of the most boring, drawn out transfers ever.

never seen the lad play, but since he threw his dummy and refused to play for lyon, except in the kids team, i hope he's shit and gets sold back for £2m or something

[Carl]

I read somewhere that he's no where near as good as his price tag makes out.

"Maybe I'll play a few minutes," he said

get used to that feeling mate.

[PAULM03]

Why do Chelsea need another player? It would be easier for them just to buy everyone and all the other clubs just take their players on loan.

[Carl]

maybe a CL team and a prem team