Chelsea sign Portugal´s Deco

Portugal midfielder Deco has signed for Chelsea, the English Premiership club said on Monday, for eight million pounds (10.1 million euros).

Deco, the midfield maestro of Porto's 2004 European Champions League-winning campaign, leaves Barcelona, with whom he also won the Champions League two years later, after the Catalan club said he did not feature in their plans.

Stamford Bridge have now confirmed the 30-year-old has agreed the move to become the club's first signing since Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed manager.

The Brazil-born player is the club's first signing since the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager and he is believed to have cost around eight million pounds.

Deco told Chelsea TV: “It is good for me to be here and first of all I am very happy to be here.

“I am sure I have come at the right time to do great things and be able to help Chelsea go back to the way it was and come back to being the first one, not only in England but also to win the Champions League that has been their dream for so long.”

Deco's move will see him link up once again with Scolari, his national coach at Euro 2008, and another Portugal team-mate in Jose Bosingwa, who signed for the club earlier in the summer.

The two-time Champions League-winner had been linked with Inter Milan, where his former Porto boss Jose Mourinho is now manager, but the Italians appear to have been put off by the price. Chelsea, however, seem to have negotiated the fee down to sign Deco.

Barcelona released a statement on Monday claiming Deco had signed a three-year contract with Chelsea.