Anelka to leave Chelsea for Shanghai
Monday, December 12, 2011
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Nicolas Anelka will leave Chelsea FC and European football in January, with the 32-year-old forward set to join Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua FC on a reported two-year contract.
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Striker Nicolas Anelka will leave Chelsea FC in January after a deal was agreed for the 32-year-old to join Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua FC. Reports suggest he has signed a two-year contract.
The English Premier League team confirmed on their website that the two clubs "have agreed terms for the permanent transfer in the January transfer window", bringing an end to Anelka's four-year stay in west London.
The former French international has been limited to three starts in the English top flight this season but did feature in four of his side's UEFA Champions League group stage games. Anelka lifted two FA Cups and the 2010 Premier League title with Chelsea, where he arrived from Bolton Wanderers FC in January 2008.
The forward started his career with Paris Saint-Germain FC but built his reputation under Arsène Wenger at Arsenal FC, with whom he landed an English double in 1997/98. He then won the 1999/2000 UEFA Champions League in his only campaign at Real Madrid CF and UEFA EURO 2000 with France that summer.
He rejoined PSG from 2000 to 2002, with that spell including a loan period with Liverpool FC, and later represented Manchester City FC and Fenerbahçe SK – winning the 2005/06 Turkish championship – before heading back to England with Bolton.
