© EuroFootball.com
"The richest clubs in the world, London, at midnight on Thursday closed the transfer window with a bang. In the last moments, they ended the whole summer with the acquisition of England's left-back defender Ashley Cole, who is a perfect fit for London.
It is reported that "Chelsea" will pay 5 million pounds (about 25 million litas) for A.Cole and will add the versatile French defender William Gallas.
Both clubs released a statement confirming the deal and added that both players have agreed to personal contracts with the clubs and have passed medical examinations.
The 25-year-old A.Cole joined the Arsenal youth team in 1998. A fast, aggressive, and accurate passer, the defender played more than 200 matches for the Gunners in eight years.
He has also represented the England national team 51 times and participated in this year's World Cup in Germany.
A.Cole is expected to replace the Spaniard Asier del Horno in Chelsea's starting lineup, who left for Valencia in July.
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old W.Gallas, who arrived from Marseille to Chelsea for 6.2 million pounds in 2001, was a member of the main team that won the English championship in 2005 and 2006.
In his new club, the Frenchman will join his compatriot coach Arsene Wenger and his team-mate in the national team, Thierry Henry, with whom he participated in the World Cup in Germany."
