Chelsea capture Sidwell signature

Chelsea FC have made their first signing of the summer by acquiring midfielder Steve Sidwell on a free transfer from Premiership rivals Reading FC.

Reading success
The 24-year-old started his career at another London club, Arsenal FC, but failed to break into the first team and joined Reading midway through the 2002/03 campaign. He was a regular as the Berkshire side won promotion to the English top flight for the first time in 2006, and enjoyed an impressive first term in the Premiership, scoring four goals and missing just three of Reading's 38 league games as the club finished in eighth place. Sidwell's contract expires at the end of June and, having decided against signing a new deal at the Madejski Stadium, he will move to Chelsea on 1 July having passed a medical.