Malouda bound for Chelsea

Chelsea have succeeded in their bid to lure Lyon winger Florent Malouda, pictured June 2007, to Stamford Bridge, the French club's president announced on Sunday.

Chelsea have succeeded in their bid to lure Lyon winger Florent Malouda to Stamford Bridge, the French club's president announced on Sunday.

"The London club is completely in agreement with the amount we're looking for. I'm waiting for a confirmation email from Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon," Jean-Michel Aulas told Lyon's television channel OLTV.

He added: "It's fantastic and great news for Florent. I've just phoned him and he's going to be able to leave tonight to undergo a medical in London on Monday."

Kenyon had said this week he was hoping to wrap up the signing worth 20 million euros before Jose Mourinho's squad fly out to Los Angeles on Tuesday for their pre-season tour.

The France international is the Blues first big money catch of the close season.

So far Mourinho has signed Claudio Pizarro, Steve Sidwell and Tal Ben Haim on free transfers.

Malouda, 27, was signed by Lyon in 2003 from Guingamp for 4.5m euros having begun his playing career with Chateauroux in 1996.

Last season he scored 10 goals.

He won the first of his 30 international caps in November 2004 and was part of Raymond Domenech's side that made it through to last year's World Cup final against Italy.

Chelsea's new recruit won the French championship four times with Lyon and was voted the best player in the French first division in 2006-07.