Bridge and Le Saux on the move
Monday, July 21, 2003
Article summary
Southampton FC's Wayne Bridge has joined Chelsea FC with Graeme Le Saux moving in the opposite direction.
Article body
Trio of transfers
Bridge, 22, has completed a €9.8m move from FA Cup finalists Southampton FC after passing a medical. As part of the deal, Chelsea's former England defender Graeme Le Saux, 34, has signed a two-year deal at the Saint Mary's stadium.
Aiming for medals
"This is a big step up for me with the players Chelsea are looking to buy to build a great squad," Bridge told the club's official TV station. "They've got a good squad at the moment so hopefully I can add to that. I've come here to win medals."
Saints confirmation
A Southampton statement on the club's official website said: "Following our statement of Friday we can confirm that Wayne Bridge has signed a contract with Chelsea Football Club. Graeme Le Saux has at the same time signed a two-year contract with our club and will be travelling to Sweden to join the squad later this week."
Other signings
Left-back Bridge has followed Geremi and Glen Johnson to Stamford Bridge after the arrival of the London club's new owner Roman Abramovich. Geremi and Johnson were recruited from Real Madrid CF and West Ham United FC last week at a combined cost of €18.5m.
England honours
A member of England's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad, Bridge has won eleven caps for his country. He played 173 matches for Southampton, with his last game coming in the 1-0 cup final defeat by Arsenal FC in May.