Jul 02

Yossi Benayoun completes transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea

• Israeli joins Premier League champions on three-year contract
• Made 172 appearances during three-year spell at Anfield

Yossi Benayoun has completed his move from Liverpool to Chelsea. The two clubs agreed a fee for the player last month, believed to be in the region of £5m, and the deal has been confirmed this afternoon.

The 30-year-old Israeli international made 172 appearances and scored 37 goals during his three seasons with Liverpool but fell out of favour with former manager Rafael Benítez during the last campaign and had agreed personal terms on a three-year contract with the Premier League champions, also last month.

“Yossi’s departure was agreed between the player and Rafael Benítez a number of weeks ago,” a Liverpool spokesman said. “Everybody at Liverpool FC wishes him well for the future.”

Benayoun joined Liverpool from West Ham for £5m in the summer of 2007. “I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea,” said the player. “It is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful.”

LiverpoolChelseaSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk

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Jun 14

Yossi Benayoun agrees to join Chelsea from Liverpool – reports

• Israeli believed to have finalised four-year contract
• Fee yet to be agreed between clubs

Yossi Benayoun has, according to reports, agreed to join Chelsea on a four-year contract from Liverpool, although it is believed that both clubs have yet to agree a fee.

Chelsea have reportedly been pursuing the Israeli international for some time and see him as an ideal replacement for Joe Cole, who will leave the club next month after failing to agree terms on an extension to his deal at Stamford Bridge.

Benayoun has been a moderate success at Liverpool since joining for £5m in July 2007 but is believed to have fallen out with the former manager Rafael Benítez during the last campaign and has been looking to leave Anfield ever since.

According to the Israeli Sport 5 website, the 30-year-old has finalised personal terms with the Premier League champions, but the move is far from completed. Chelsea, it is believed, do not want to spend more than £4m on the player while Liverpool want closer to £10m.

Liverpool are currently without a manager following the departure of Benítez earlier this month and it is also possible that his replacement, widely expected to be Roy Hodgson, could demand that Benayoun remains at the club. It is likely, though, that a compromise will be reached shortly that will see the former West Ham player return to London.

LiverpoolChelseaTransfer windowSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk

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Mar 30

Didier Drogba suspended for Chelsea’s next two European matches

• Striker punished for sending-off in Internazionale defeat
• Chelsea must lodge any appeal within three days

Didier Drogba has been given a two-match suspension from European competition as a result of being sent off in Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Internazionale earlier this month.

The Ivory Coast striker was dismissed for stamping on Thiago Motta late on in the second-leg of the sides’ last-16 tie, which Chelsea went on to lose 3-1 on aggregate.

Uefa banned Drogba for four matches last season, when he verbally attacked the referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League semi-finals. Two further games were suspended for a probationary three-year period.

“The suspension applies to the next two club competition matches for which Drogba would be eligible,” read a statement on Chelsea’s official website. “The player’s existing period of probation, which began on 15 July 2009 and was originally intended to run for two years, has also been extended to 15 July 2013. An appeal may be lodged within three days of the sending of the reasoned decision.”

ChelseaSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk

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