Malouda thanks Drogba for £13.5m move to Chelsea

The Ivory Coast striker has flourished with the Blues and managed to convince his team-mate from their days at French club Guingamp that they should be reunited.

Malouda will have a medical in London today ahead of a £13.5million transfer and admitted that his chats with Drogba helped to influence him.

"Didier pushed a bit, a lot even," said the 27-year-old France midfielder. "But then, at Chelsea, that's not enough to recruit a player.

"Chelsea were my No1 choice. I saw several matches there as a spectator and I always enjoyed it very much.

"There was also the coach, who really wanted to have me, and life in London, because I want my family to feel at ease. The most important thing was I felt they really wanted me. The kind of football they play suits me quite well."

Lyon dug their heels in over the fee but the French club's president Jean- Michel Aulas is glad the player's future has been resolved.

"Chelsea are completely in agreement with the amount we're looking for," said Aulas. "It's great for Florent."

Malouda has won four French titles with Lyon, was voted best Ligue One player last season and was a member of the France squad beaten by Italy in last year's World Cup Final.

His arrival is likely to signal the end of Arjen Robben's stay at Chelsea with Real Madrid poised to snap up the winger. The Spaniards are in a position to strengthen their team after today appointing Bernd Schuster as their new manager.

The Malouda deal is Chelsea's most prominent signing of the summer, with Claudio Pizarro, Steve Sidwell and Tal Ben Haim arriving on free transfers.

Sidwell, criticised for joining Chelsea when a rumoured move to Newcastle would have given him more first-team opportunities, said of his decision: "Newcastle were interested, but when a team like Chelsea comes in, then there was only one decision to make.

"There were a lot of questions to be answered and the main one was am I going to play?

"After speaking to the manager he did say I was going to get a chance. All I want is an opportunity to play at the highest level that I can."

Sidwell says he won't be afraid to give any of the big names at Chelsea an earbashing if they're losing.

Speaking on Chelsea TV, the midfielder added: "If we're being beaten then I can guarantee I'll be pushing the boys."

Chelsea left for Los Angeles today with new director of football Avram Grant. A club statement said: "Grant will be responsible for the co-ordination of football matters across the various areas of Chelsea. He will sit on the club board and report to chief executive Peter Kenyon."

The decision to appoint Grant was made last season and was one of the causes of tension between Jose Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich, although the coach appears to have accepted it now.

Michael Ballack will remain in London for another week to have treatment on his ankle injury. But he could still take part in the second half of the US tour.

• The full interview with Steve Sidwell is on Chelsea TV at 6.30pm tonight.