Blues seal Makelele deal

The deal for the 30-year-old was completed late Sunday night, under 12 hours before the Champions League qualifying deadline.

The move had been in doubt after Real refused the player's demand for 15 percent of the transfer fee, but the 30-year-old eventually agreed to drop his request in order to push the deal through.

Makelele has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge and becomes Chelsea's tenth big-money signing since the arrival of billionaire backer Roman Abramovich.

However, Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch confirmed that Makelele's signing would be the last before the transfer deadline at 5pm on Monday.

"That's it. No more. We've finished!" stated Birch.

Makelele will be handed the number four shirt at Stamford Bridge, and is thought to have almost doubled his Real wage packet, and will now pocket in the region of ‚é¼3 million (£2 million) per annum.

The former Celta Vigo star admitted to Chelsea TV that the ambition and big-spending of the West Londoners had been a huge lure, even to a player established at Real Madrid.

"Everybody is talking about Chelsea. Real Madrid is no different to anyone," said Makelele.

"There's lots of interest, everybody is talking about the ambition of Chelsea."