Makelele makes Chelsea move
Monday, September 1, 2003
Article summary
Chelsea FC have signed France midfield player Claude Makelele from Real Madrid CF in a €23mdeal.
Article body
Chelsea FC have beaten the transfer deadline to sign France midfield player Claude Makelele from Real Madrid CF.
Fee not revealed
The 30-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Premiership club, joining for a fee reportedly in the region of €23m. The deal was completed at 00.30CET today, just in time for the UEFA Champions League qualifying deadline.
Excited by move
Speaking to Chelsea's official website, Makelele said: "Everbody is talking about Chelsea. Real Madrid is no different to anyone. There's lots of interest, everybody is talking about the ambition of the London club, Chelsea."
No more for now
Makelele, who will wear the No4 shirt, is the final new face at Stamford Bridge this summer after a spending spree that has now passed the €150m mark. The player has left London already to join up with the France squad for their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers against Cyprus and Slovenia.
