Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

UEFA Champions League: Essien saga nears conclusion

/noticias.info/ Chelsea FC are today expected to sign Ghana midfielder Michael Essien from Olympique Lyonnais in a record transfer involving a Ligue 1 player.

Lengthy negotiations
The 22-year-old had long been coveted by the English champions but the clubs were only able to reach an accord last night. "We have reached an agreement in principle," said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas after his side drew 1-1 at Olympique de Marseille without Essien.

Significant fee
Aulas added: “We did everything we could to keep him but we were not able to make that possible." Although the terms have not been disclosed, Aulas said the fee for the Ligue 1 player of the year was more than the €37.5m Chelsea paid Marseille for Didier Drogba a year ago.

Great season
Essien enjoyed an outstanding 2004/05 season, missing just one league match as Olympique Lyonnais cruised to a fourth consecutive title. The former SC Bastia player, who joined Lyon two years ago on a five-year contract, was ever-present in the side's UEFA Champions League run, before their penalty shoot-out exit at the hands of PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals. notas_de_prensa_archivo