Chelsea have confirmed that they have compelted the signing of Steve Sidwell on a free transfer from Reading, in what is the biggest transfer of the summer yet.
The midfielder has successfully completed a medical at Stamford Bridge, and will become a Chelsea player on July 1, the club have confirmed.
He had been linked with a move to for almost two weeks now, and a deal has finally been struck at The Bridge.
The move will surely please both Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich, as the former gets a quality midfielder to strengthen his squad, and the latter gets to keep his cheque-book deep in his pocket.
As much as it will be a boost for the Blues, it will also be a blow for Reading, with Steve Coppell already having admitted that he will not be able to replace his key midfielder.
"We won't get a like-for-like for Siddy," he had told the Reading Evening Post. "He is a good player and that is why half the Premiership were trying to sign him.
"We will get somebody who has positives and negatives. Siddy has been very much our driving force all this year.
"There are elements of his game where you can say he can't do this or that, but he is only 24 and he is nowhere near his peak years yet.
"The one thing I know about him, having taken him on loan from Brentford when he was 17, is the progress he has made year-on-year and the contributions he has made.
"His is a fabulous mentality to have. I know wherever he goes he will establish himself - whether it is at Chelsea or anywhere else."
That Reading risked allowing his contract to run into its final year, has come back to hurt them, for sure. Even a sum in the region of 6-8 million pounds would have been invaluable for them.
Sidwell, born on December 14, 1982, and came up through the ranks at Arsenal, though he never quite manages a first team appearance. After loan splls with Brentford, Beveren and Brighton and Hove Albion, he finally mover to Reading on a permanent transfer in 2003.
Four years on, he has moved to the Gunners' fiercest rivals, and will add more muscle to an already bulging Chelsea midfield, comprising John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. It is also, perhaps, an indication that Jose Mourinho will continue to operate with four (essentially) central midfielders next season.
However, the move also brings into question Claude Makelele's future, with the Frenchman already having become a substitute this season. A summer exit looms as he looks for first team action.
Steve Sidwell Completes Chelsea Move
Moderators: BillShankly, arxidi, ruud, Judge Judy, Forum Admins
Steve who?
Can't say that he would be the first midfielder that would come to mind. Will find it hard to break into the starting 11 I suspect.
Blue is the color, football is the game.
2006/2007 EPL runner up
2006/2007 Champions League Semi-Finalist
2006/2007 FA Cup winners
2006/2007 League Cup winners
and still considered 2006/2007 to be an un-successful season
2006/2007 EPL runner up
2006/2007 Champions League Semi-Finalist
2006/2007 FA Cup winners
2006/2007 League Cup winners
and still considered 2006/2007 to be an un-successful season
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Lilly Whites
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fair gomanU4life wrote:Forza Roma wrote:tell him to go to lazio..LFTWNG11 wrote:dont worry Riomanista... end of next season after making 2 appearances he will be at Newcastle
we will take barton
battle of the english wannabes
they are english though you dumb riomanista
english national team wannabes
they're both capped thoughForza Roma wrote:fair gomanU4life wrote:Forza Roma wrote:tell him to go to lazio..LFTWNG11 wrote:dont worry Riomanista... end of next season after making 2 appearances he will be at Newcastle
we will take barton
battle of the english wannabes
they are english though you dumb riomanista
english national team wannabes
