Chelsea

Chelsea complete Shevchenko deal
Chelsea have completed the signing of striker Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan for a fee of about £30m. The 29-year-old signed a four-year contract on Wednesday after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical. "I am here for the challenge and the excitement of the Premier League," said the Ukraine captain. Because the exact fee has not been disclosed, it is not known whether it beats the £30m Manchester United gave Leeds in 2002 for Rio Ferdinand. It is however a club record fee for Chelsea, eclipsing the £24.5m they paid for Lyon's Michael Essien in 2005. Shevchenko, former European Footballer of the Year, added: "I am going from one big club to another and joining a team of champions. "There is a right moment to join a football club and I think I have arrived here at the perfect time. "The Champions League has to be a realistic target for next season but it is not just about the Champions League. Chelsea is going for their third Premiership as well and I like the club's mentality of wanting to win every game they play. "I have followed Mr (Jose) Mourinho's career carefully for the last few years and have been hugely impressed with the way he manages. TOP FIVE ALL-TIME TRANSFERS Zinedine Zidane; Juventus - Real Madrid £44m Luis Figo; Barcelona - Real Madrid £37m Hernan Crespo; Parma - Lazio £35.5m Gianluigi Buffon; Parma - Juventus £32.6m Christian Vieri; Lazio - Inter £31m "He puts team ethic before individual expression which is the way I believe great teams are created. "Had money been my motivation for coming, I would probably have stayed in Milan. "I am pleased that Chelsea managed to conclude everything before the World Cup - I can go to Germany with a clear mind and proud to be a Chelsea player." Chelsea manager Mourinho said: "Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. "Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer. "I did not need to meet with him to convince him about Chelsea, in the same way we did not need to talk a lot about why I wanted him. Everybody knows him as a player, tactically he can play in the Chelsea system no doubt. TOP FIVE BRITISH TRANSFERS Andriy Shevchenko; AC Milan - Chelsea £30m Rio Ferdinand: Leeds - Man Utd £30m Juan Sebastian Veron: Lazio - Man Utd £28m Wayne Rooney: Everton - Man Utd £27m Michael Essien: Lyon - Chelsea £24.5m Didier Drogba: Marseille - Chelsea £24m "Milan is a big club, a great club, but for him to leave Milan for Chelsea is a big statement about where Chelsea is. "He is a champion and he is joining a team of champions. I have already spoken to some of our players and they are looking forward to playing with him. Great players want to play with other great players." Chief Executive Peter Kenyon added: "The deal is a new club transfer record and is a straight cash deal. We are delighted to have signed one of Europe's greatest goalscorers." The news that Shevchenko had finalised his switch was first broken by AC Milan's website, which said in a statement: "AC Milan communicates it has ceded definitely the sporting rights of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea." The club swiftly released another statement saying: "Milan thank Shevchenko, an extraordinary man and striker, for the great amount of excitement he provided in the seven seasons in which he wore the red and black shirt. "His 173 goals, making him the second top scorer in the club's history, have contributed in a vital manner to the winning of an Italian league title, an Italian Cup, Super Cup, a Champions League and a European Supercup." Shevchenko, born in Dvirkivshchyna, Ukraine, on 29 September 1976, began his career with Dynamo Kiev, making his debut as a teenager in 1994. In 1997-98, when already a Ukraine international, he sprung to the attention of the European game when he scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Barcelona at the Nou Camp. In 1999 he joined AC Milan and was an instant success - going on to win the European Footballer of the Year prize in 2004. He has also led his country to their first World Cup finals. Shevchenko becomes Chelsea's third signing of the summer after midfielder Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich and Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou. Mourinho is also reported to be interested in signing Real Madrid and Brazil defender Roberto Carlos and goalkeeper Hilario from Portuguese club Nacional de Madeira.

Keeper Cech has shoulder surgery
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has had shoulder surgery following the Czech Republic's World Cup exit. Cech, 24, was delaying the operation until his country's elimination from the tournament in Germany. But Chelsea say the two-hour surgery was routine and needed to clear up \"minor problems\" from last season. A representative for Cech said: \"The operation was successful. Petr feels well and will have a rest and intensive rehabilitation in the following weeks.\" Cech, a key man in Chelsea's back-to-back Premiership victories, now faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the new season on 19 August. A statement on the official Chelsea website said: \"Petr will be working with the Chelsea medical staff to be fit as soon as possible.\"

Huth set to complete Boro switch
Chelsea defender Robert Huth was on Teesside on Monday afternoon for a medical, with a view to completing his move to Middlesbrough. The 21-year-old German international is expected to formally sign a deal for a fee of around £5m within 24 hours. New Boro manager Gareth Southgate reached a verbal agreement with Huth as the World Cup finals began last month. But Germany's progression to the last four meant the deal could not be completed until now. The Berlin-born defender will become Southgate's first signing. Huth managed only 32 senior starts during his five years at Chelsea and, after picking up an injury in the run-up to the World Cup finals, played only once for his country as they clinched third place. He has been signed as a direct replacement for Southgate, who effectively ended his playing career when he was asked to succeed Steve McClaren, who has taken over as England boss. However, Southgate will retain his registration in case of emergencies.

Chelsea hold out over Crespo fee
Chelsea have issued a statement after Hernan Crespo told an Italian newspaper he wanted to return to Serie A. Crespo was quoted as telling Tuttosport that his \"one wish\" was to go back to Italy, where he has played for Parma, Lazio, Inter Milan and AC Milan. Chelsea then said: \"He is contracted for the next two years and will remain so unless we receive a suitable offer. \"Everyone at Chelsea is aware of his domestic situation and we have every sympathy for that.\" Crespo owns a house in Italy and says returning there is more important than money - adding that he has turned down incentives presented by billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. \"He offered me a house, a private jet and more money, but money and success doesn't come into it,\" Crespo said. \"Italy is my natural environment, it's where I'll live when I retire and it's the best place to play.\" Crespo, who joined Chelsea from Inter Milan for £16.8m in August 2003, was loaned to AC Milan for one season before returning to Stamford Bridge. He said: \"Abramovich is a marvellous person and Chelsea is a fantastic club, they have treated me like a king. \"The fans have been great too, but I am waiting here, just hoping my mobile will ring. \"I can guarantee that I am a healthy striker with just one wish - to return and play my sort of football.\"

Gallas rift with Chelsea deepens
Chelsea have confirmed that defender William Gallas will not join the club on their pre-season tour of the USA. Gallas was supposed to report back to their training camp in Los Angeles on Monday but failed to turn up. \"He did not report and further action will now be considered by the club as a consequence,\" read a Chelsea statement. His agent, Pierre Frelot, told Sir Stanley that Gallas, 28, was delayed for personal reasons and that talks over his future will be held with Chelsea. Gallas told the Blues in May that he wanted to leave - amid reports that he was unhappy at playing at full-back instead of his preferred centre-back. His current contract runs out in 2007 and he has yet to sign a new one. The Chelsea statement added: \"Gallas was due to join the team with the other Chelsea players who participated in the World Cup semi-finals and final. \"William requested extra time off following the World Cup but was informed he should still report to Los Angeles on the date previously agreed with him. \"Pre-season training and the tour is about building team spirit among our squad and extra leave is only granted for valid football-related reasons. \"Discussions between Chelsea and William about a new contract are already well documented and ongoing. He has one year left on his current contract.\" Gallas, who has been linked with Italian side AC Milan, is expected to return to London on Friday from his holiday in Guadeloupe. The France international has been offered a new four-year contract and Chelsea have said they are not willing to sell him. Gallas, a £6m signing from Marseille, has made more than 200 appearances for Chelsea in five years.

Stateside with Chelsea
When Homer Simpson tells you he's heard of Didier Drogba, it suggests Chelsea have made a real impact on this tour of America. Granted, the Homer I spoke to was a jobbing actor entertaining the tourists on Hollywood's famous Walk of Stars, but it was recognition nonetheless. Even an LAPD patrolman, who reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator because of his stiff head movements and sunglasses, looked excited when I told him Jose Mourinho's boys were in town. But have Chelsea turned enough heads to justify their charm offensive in the US? The squad's first training session took place at the University of California in Los Angeles, and the presence of stars such as Andriy Shevchenko went largely unnoticed. A few inquisitive passers-by nestled their heads between the railings around the training pitch to see what was going on, but the level of interest was reminiscent of a Sunday league game on a cold November morning. The fact that black sheeting had been attached to the railings on three sides of the pitch probably didn't help. But this tour has been eventful from the start and given me plenty of airtime. For example, after that training session, we went to the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard for Shevchenko's first press conference as a Chelsea player. The 29-year-old striker, who answered all questions in Italian, explained the reasons for his move from AC Milan to Chelsea in May. He said he and his wife had been keen for a change of lifestyle, played down the closeness of his relationship to owner Roman Abramovich and even joked with the newspaper journalists that his son might play for England one day. The Chelsea camp all stayed in the Beverley Hills Hotel and even the likes of Shevchenko and Frank Lampard must have been taken aback by the lavish surroundings. There were even more Aston Martins in the car park than you usually see at Chelsea's Cobham training ground. Elsewhere, we've had the saga following William Gallas's no-show, speculation about Ashley Cole joining the club from Arsenal and Mourinho's jibes at Liverpool's title hopes. On Thursday morning, Chelsea flew to Chicago for their first pre-season match of the season, against the MLS All-Stars. Shevchenko and Ballack should make their Chelsea debuts on Saturday Whatever the result, Mourinho and his coaches have already declared the tour a major success. The training facilities have been excellent and the squad seems to be in great shape ahead of the new season. Things also seem to have gone very well away from the training pitch. When I returned to UCLA to watch the squad train six days after that first sparsely-attended session, there were between one and two hundred excited Americans asking for shirts to be signed and taking photos with their cameras. And a couple of days earlier, the players had attended a \"signing session\" in a large Los Angeles department store. It attracted about 1000 supporters, many of whom bought Chelsea shirts. The highlight for the players might well have been the \"Hit The Ground Running Party\", organised by Chelsea and their shirt sponsor Adidas, when they got to meet US rap star Snoop Dogg and pose for pictures with him. Maybe our friends on this side of the pond are warming to the Chelsea charm offensive after all.

Chelsea suffer Cole injury scare
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole could miss the start of the Premiership season after suffering a knee injury during the 1-0 defeat by MLS All-Stars. Cole had been on the pitch in Chicago for just five minutes before leaving the action clutching his right knee. \"Everybody is worried because I think it's something to do with his knee ligaments,\" said boss Jose Mourinho. \"We will have to wait until we go back to London to see the specialist but he looks really injured.\" Dwayne De Rosario scored the winner for the Major League Soccer side in the 70th minute but Mourinho was more concerned by Cole's injury. \"That's a real problem,\" he said. \"If you tell me there is no problem with Joe Cole and we lose 10-0 then that is better. \"The problem today is that we don't want injuries, especially in pre-season.\" Mourinho added: \"It's a problem because he is a big player for us. He was only on for five minutes but he gave a lot to the game during that time. \"You could see his quality as a player. He is a player that I need but don't have.\"

Chelsea await Cole injury verdict
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole will discover the results of a scan on Monday amid fears that he could miss the first six weeks of the season. The 24-year-old suffered suspected knee ligament damage during Chelsea's friendly defeat by MLS All-Stars. It means he will miss the start of the Premiership campaign and England's friendly against Greece on 16 August. \"Everybody is worried,\" said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on Sunday. \"He looks really injured.\" Cole had been on the pitch in Chicago for only five minutes at the weekend before leaving the action clutching his right knee. \"It's a real problem,\" added Mourinho. \"If you tell me there is no problem with Joe Cole and we lose 10-0 then that is better. Dwayne De Rosario's 70th-minute strike condemned Chelsea to a shock defeat in Illinois and Mourinho admitted his players were lacking match fitness. The Blues boss added that he did not expect his team to reach peak fitness in time for the Community Shield against Liverpool on Sunday - or even for their Premiership opener against Manchester City on 20 August. \"My players were tired. That was obvious,\" he said. \"We have not done much training but we have trained really hard. With that intensity, the players have not recovered. \"We played a fitter team and that will happen again when we play Liverpool because they will already have Champions League games in their legs. \"We have to try to win but the conditions are difficult for us. None of my players are ready to play for 90 minutes. \"We play against Manchester City in the league and they have had five, six or seven matches of the pre-season.\"

Crespo clinches switch to Inter
Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo has joined Inter Milan in a two-year deal. The 31-year-old has moved on loan but the move is effectively a free transfer as it takes Crespo to the end of his deal at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea do have the option to take Crespo back after one season if needed. Chelsea signed Crespo from Inter for £16.8m in August 2003 but he failed to cement a regular starting place and has complained about missing Italy. The Argentine recently acquired Italian citizenship and still owns a house on the outskirts of Milan. CRESPO'S CLUBS River Plate (Argentina) 1993-1996 Parma (Italy) 1996-2000 Lazio (Italy) 2000-2002 Inter Milan (Italy) 2002-2003 Chelsea (England) 2004-2006 AC Milan (Italy) loan 2004-2005 The forward, who has played for Parma, Lazio, Inter Milan and AC Milan, said: \"For me it is a matter of pride to be back at Inter. \"I had left here crying and now I am back smiling.\" He added: \"Nothing bothers me at all about the loan transfer. I actually have to thank Chelsea, the chairman and the coach because they understood what I wanted as a man and they have made me happy. \"I have a special, sentimental and now legal relationship with Italy. I am officially an Italian citizen. \"I have an Italian wife and two Milanese daughters, Nicole and Sofia. They are at home here.\" Crespo had also attracted interest from AC Milan, with whom he spent the 2004/05 season on loan from Chelsea. The arrival of Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan this summer had left Crespo an even more peripheral figure at Stamford Bridge. However, the departure of Crespo leaves Didier Drogba and Shevchenko as the only front-line strikers at Chelsea, which might lead manager Jose Mourinho into another foray into the transfer market.

Shevchenko relishing Chelsea task
Chelsea's new striker Andriy Shevchenko says he is looking forward to playing the English way after seven years competing in Italy for AC Milan. The Ukrainian scored 173 goals for Milan before his £30.8m move in May and told the London Evening Standard he was looking forward to a new test. \"I know the difficulties I might come up against and I'm going to try and be ready for them,\" he said. \"I like the English way; it's less tactical than Italy but more exciting.\" The 2004 European Footballer of the Year made his reputation at Dynamo Kiev, playing alongside Sergei Rebrov. And although his former team-mate's spell in England with Tottenham and West Ham ended in disappointment, he said striker Rebrov had encouraged him to make the move. \"I spoke to Sergei about coming here and he was very enthusiastic,\" he added. \"He had a good first year and it was a shame he was not able to continue in the same way but he got a lot from playing here and I hope to as well.\" Shevchenko may not be the most physically imposing striker in the Premiership but he should be able to take care of himself after years of dealing with Italian defenders. \"They are pretty tough and I'm used to that,\" he said. \"Football has become more physically demanding but I am prepared for the challenges ahead.\"

Chelsea issue deadline over Cole
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Arsenal need to make up their minds about the possible transfer of Ashley Cole before the end of the week. The Blues have made an offer for Cole, but Mourinho claimed he may look at other full-back transfer targets if the issue is not resolved quickly. \"It is in their hands and we have to wait,\" said Mourinho. \"If we have no solution about him in a couple of days, we turn the corner and we see other faces.\" Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who also called for a swift resolution to the long-running saga earlier this week, said the club had plans in place should Cole leave. \"Many big players have left the club in my nine years,\" he said. \"However, Ashley Cole has not left yet, and if he does, we still have players who can come in for him or we can buy.\" The 25-year-old has repeatedly been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. \"What can I do? Arsenal has an offer from Chelsea. If they accept, they accept, if they don't accept, they don't,\" added Mourinho. \"If Arsenal decide to sell the player, that is OK. But the player belongs to Arsenal, we cannot do anything about it. \"We have other options. We are waiting for decisions but we have other options. We cannot play a whole season only with Wayne Bridge. \"There is a space in our squad for another left-back because we only have one real left-back.\" Cole was not named in Arsenal's Champions League squad for the 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, meaning he could play for Chelsea in Europe if he was to be transferred. Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has admitted that initial talks between the two London clubs have taken place. Chelsea were fined - together with Blues manager Jose Mourinho and Cole - in June 2005 after they breached league rules by meeting without Arsenal's knowledge. Cole's relationship with the Gunners has been strained of late and in promotional material for his new book the defender criticised Arsenal for making him a \"scapegoat\" over the tapping-up affair.

Chelsea given Cole injury boost
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole could be back in action before the end of the month despite injuring his right knee in a pre-season friendly in America. It had been feared the 24-year-old had damaged ligaments and could be out for up to six weeks, but coach Steve Clarke says he is recovering quickly. \"Joe has got the brace off his leg. He is moving around on his own,\" he said. \"He still feels a little pain which is normal but we are hopeful he will progress very, very quickly.\" Cole suffered the injury in the early stages of Chelsea's friendly defeat by MLS All-Stars in Chicago and will miss the start of the Premiership campaign and England's friendly against Greece on 16 August. Jose Mourinho's side have their second run-out in 24 hours when they take on Celtic at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening, having beaten Feyenoord 1-0 in Holland on Tuesday. Mourinho will rotate the same 17-man squad, giving new signings Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack their first appearances in front of the Stamford Bridge crowd. The champions then face Liverpool in Sunday's Community Shield in Cardiff, and start the defence of their Premiership title against Manchester City on 20 August.

Chelsea break off from Cole talks
Chelsea have broken off negotiations with Arsenal over the transfer of England left-back Ashley Cole. \"Our offer is an excellent offer for an excellent player. It's in their hands. They say no and no is no,\" said Blues boss Jose Mourinho. \"The offer went to the limit. The club does not move one single pound more and I completely agree with that.\" Mourinho, who is believed to have offered £20m for Cole, insists William Gallas will not be part of any deal. \"I haven't lost patience,\" added Mourinho, who also appeared to leave the door slightly ajar for the transfer to be revived. \"Ashley Cole is Arsenal's player and they have the power in their hands to say yes or no. \"We have been looking all the time at other players. When you try to sign a player, you can't think this is the only player in the world you can get. You have to look at some alternatives. \"Of course he was an important choice for us but I believe he was also an important choice for them and they probably want to keep him. \"You will have to ask Arsenal if it will happen now. If I sign another left-back. I only want one more left-back. I don't want two. But there is a chance it will happen.\" The full statement from Stamford Bridge read: \"Chelsea FC has been in discussions with Arsenal Football Club for some time over the possible transfer of Ashley Cole. \"Chelsea has made a very substantial offer for the player. \"Although discussions have continued, Arsenal's valuation of the player does not match Chelsea's and therefore no agreement can be reached in the current circumstances.\" The saga of Cole's transfer to Chelsea started when the player was fined, along with Mourinho, for in June 2005 for meeting in a London hotel without Arsenal's knowledge. Cole's relationship with the Gunners became strained and in promotional material for his new book the defender criticised the club for making him a \"scapegoat\" over the tapping-up affair. Then this week Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, like his Chelsea counterpart Mourinho, said he wanted the saga resolved within the week. \"I do not know what will happen with Ashley Cole in the next few days, but for me certainly the deadline has come now to make a decision one way or the other,\" Wenger told Sir Stanley on Monday. \"This week is the last limit I can expect something to happen.\" It seems Cole could now start the season with Arsenal, however reluctantly. The left-back, who played in last season's Champions League final and was an ever-present at the World Cup for his country, was left out of Arsenal's squad for Tuesday's match against Dinamo Zagreb. Wenger insisted that was due to a lack of match fitness, rather than to avoid the player being cup-tied.

Terry named new England skipper
John Terry has been named as the new captain of the England football team. The 25-year-old was confirmed as David Beckham's successor on Thursday, with Steven Gerrard made vice-captain by new England coach Steve McClaren. Terry begins his reign as captain in McClaren's first match in charge, a friendly against Greece on 16 August. McClaren told the Football Association's website: \"I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had.\" McClaren said that the respect that Chelsea skipper Terry commanded among his fellow professionals was behind his decision. \"John has all the attributes an international captain needs - leadership, authority, courage, ability, tactical awareness and a total refusal to accept second-best,\" he said. JOHN TERRY FACTFILE Born: 7 December 1980 October 1998: Chelsea debut June 2003: England debut June 2004: Plays at Euro 2004 August 2004: Appointed Chelsea captain aged 23 April 2005: Lifts Chelsea's first league title since 1955 April 2006: Gets his hands on the Premiership title again June 2006: Ever present in heart of defence at World Cup August 2006: Named England skipper \"He has been an inspiration for Chelsea and is at his best in adversity. \"Over the five years I've been involved with the England coaching set-up I've seen first hand the respect that John has among his fellow players. \"There are a number of strong leaders in the squad and he will not lack support on and off the pitch.\" Terry said he was delighted with the appointment. \"It is the ultimate honour to be the captain of your country and I am very proud to be given this great opportunity,\" he said. \"It is an incredible challenge and one I am looking forward to very much.\" Steven Gerrard offered his congratulations to his Chelsea counterpart. \"I would like to congratulate John on being appointed England captain. I'm sure he'll do a great job,\" he said. \"He's a tremendous leader for Chelsea and has all the qualities required to do the role. \"I'm also pleased to have been appointed vice-captain by Steve McClaren today. I am grateful that Steve took the time to call me and inform me of his decision. \"There are a number of captains in the England squad and I know we will all be giving 100% support to Steve and John.\" Terry has won 29 caps since making his debut against Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2003. Beckham stepped down as England captain one day after his team were knocked out of the World Cup quarter-finals by Portugal. The midfielder had been skipper for six years after being handed the armband by stand-in coach Peter Taylor in 2000. Central defender Terry was the bookmakers' odds-on favourite to follow Beckham, although many tipped Gerrard to take the role.

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