Cole moves to Chelsea

London:

Ashley Cole's long drawn out move to Chelsea was finally completed minutes before the transfer window deadline passed on Thursday with French defender William Gallas going the other way to Arsenal. The two clubs issued a joint statement in the early hours of Friday saying that the Gunners had accepted five million pounds plus Gallas for the England leftback, whose move to Stamford Bridge has been lingering since January 2005. Chelsea's initial efforts to buy the England leftback 18 months ago led to the club and its manager, Jose Mourinho, being heavily fined by the Premier League for failing to consult the Gunners, who had the player under contract. Cole also was fined 100,000 pounds. With the move expected, Cole had not played for Arsenal this season although he has lined up for England and is due to face Andorra in a Euro 2008 qualifying game at Old Trafford on Saturday. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was reluctant to let the player go unless his club received a fee it thought acceptable. He also turned his attention to the versatile Gallas, who had decided to leave Stamford Bridge after making more than 200 appearances in five seasons for the Blues, helping them win consecutive league titles. (AP)