Finally, Chelsea Sign Essien

By Katherine Mansfield
August 15 2005

It is the end to one of the main stories this summer; after many disagreements, Essien will be a Chelsea player. Abramovich will pay 26 million pounds and give the African player a juicy five year contract. Aren’t we all glad it’s over? Like Robinho and Baptista, this one crossed the line of sanity.

First, every powerful team in Europe wanted him. Then, Chelsea, Manchester Utd., Juventus and Real Madrid were left. Then, the player said he wanted to join any of these teams, and apparently was very close to do so. But then, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, rejected some offers and wanted Essien to stay. So the player said he wanted to stay, but as Chelsea was the only one left, he changed his mind completely and refused to stay in France by all means.

Abramovich made about a zillion different bids, which Aulas elegantly rejected, as he felt like pulling the Russian millionaire’s leg. But as the transfer window will be closed shortly, the games had to be over, and now everyone is happy. Essien, who said some weeks ago that his mind was in Chelsea, will now play for the Blues; Abramovich, that wanted him in the first place, got him, although we don’t know if he really wanted him now after all or he just did it to prove he can get whoever he wants; and Aulas got himself a great deal, he sold a good player, but in exchange he got a lot of money and some of Abramovich’s pride.

It has become the transfer record this season, and there is a special particular fact: Abramovich agreed to pay the whole 38 million euros at once, with no arrangements or credits or clauses. This enables Lyon to further strengthen the squad. They have targeted the Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who plays for Osaka in Japan, as the African’s replacement. Also, they are interested in bringing a top class forward, and the names heard were Milan Baros and Michael Owen.

Essien has recently passed the medical and signed a five year deal. But, due to all the trouble in the negotiations, we can never be sure until we see him wear the Blues shirt.