Gianluca Vialli grabbed his old Juventus teamate for £3 Million as Chelsea continue to gear up for Europe.
He has always admired the classy midfielder who at 30 , is still at the peak of his powers.
The transfer was wrapped up by managing director Colin Hutchinson amazingly working from a mobile phone and a laptop in his holiday hotel in Cyprus.
But although the signing of silver-haired Deschamps means another big name has arrived at Stamford Bridge from Italy, it could also mean the end for Roberto Di Matteo.
He has been linked with a move back to Italy.
Deschamps has signed a three year contract worth £30,000 a week, although he will return to France to finish his distinguished career once that term is completed.
He is teaming up with Vialli and his best friend in soccer, Marcel Desailly .
Now Chelsea , who are in the Champions League for the first time , have three members of the French World Cup winning team, because Deschamps and Desailly will be playing alongside Frank Leboeuf.
Deschamps and Vialli were team-mates in the Juventus side which won the European Cup in 1996.
Hutchinson said from Cyprus last night "I put a heck of a lot of work into trying to sign Didier two years ago, but we failed"
"now he's decided it's time to move on from Juventus"
"He's a great signing because he's got a great appetite and he's a winner"
"He wants to come and try out a new culture and he wants to win things"
"I have said many times that because of Europe , we need a bigger squad "
"But I wouldn't think Didier would want to be sitting on the bench , this gives Luca the kind of selection headache that managers like "
"He's Luca's former team-mate and it would be nice if they repeat their European Cup success"
"I think there will be quite a bit of activity coming into Chelsea and to a lesser extent, going out"
John Dillon
Daily Mirror