CHELSEA SIGN GEORGE WEAH

Chelsea have signed George Weah on loan until the end of the season -and he could make his debut against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

The striker 33, has been out of favour at AC Milan since the arrival last summer of Andriy Shevchenko who has been paired with Oliver Bierhoff.

Weah was facing further times on the sidelines with the recent purchase of Jose Mari from Athletico Madrid for £12 Million.

Weah-who has one year left on his contract after this season-held talks with Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson in Milan this morning and agreed to the move.
He will arrive in London tommorow morning when he will train with his new club.

Chelsea beat off fierce opposition from Marseille and Roma for the World Player Of The Year .

Hutchinson revealed the part played by Chelsea's French defender and former Milan team-mate Marcel Desailly in persuading Weah to sign "He told him all the positive aspects of playing in the Premiership and playing for a club in London, "that certainly worked to our advantage advantage" said Hutchinson.

Chelsea are hoping Weah-cousin of Arsenal's Christopher Wreh-will be available to play against Tottenham.

Faxes were sent to Italy late this morning to the Football Association in a attempt to register and secure his international clearence.

The agreement is to take Weah to the end of the season and as yet there is no indication whether the move will be made permanent.

Chelsea still in the Champions League but seventh in the Premiership , need a goalscorer to ease the burden on Tore Andre Flo, Chris Sutton is yet to get the goals to justify his £10 Million fee.

Weah is not elegible to play in the Champions League having turned out in the competition for AC Milan, but is not on African Nations duty as Liberia failed to qualify.


Steve Stammers
Evening Standard