Mourinho lands Ben Haim

13 April 2012

Jose Mourinho completed a hat-trick of free transfers yesterday when defender Tal Ben Haim signed for Chelsea.

The 25-year-old was out of contract at Bolton and chose Stamford Bridge ahead of a reunion with former boss Sam Allardyce at Newcastle.

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Chelsea bound: Tal Ben Haim

The Israel centre back passed his medical at Chelsea before signing a four-year deal worth £65,000 a week.

He becomes Mourinho's third Bosman free of the summer after midfielder Steve Sidwell from Reading and striker Claudio Pizarro from Bayern Munich.

Ben Haim said: "I feel fantastic to be part of this amazing club. The first games in the Champions League, I'm very excited about that.

"If you ask every player, they want to play for Chelsea. They are one of the best teams in the world, so I'm happy to be part of that.

"Hopefully I won't disappoint anybody, especially myself. I'm sure that everything will be OK and I can't wait to start."

Ben Haim was wanted by Mourinho in January but Roman Abramovich refused to meet Bolton's £3million asking price.

The issue prompted a feud between Mourinho and owner Abramovich which has still not been totally resolved, but the Chelsea manager finally has his man.

Mourinho is still expected to bring in PSV Eindhoven defender Alex because Khalid Boulahrouz looks certain to leave.

Allardyce said: "We've had a long, hard go this week, but the lure of Chelsea and the Champions League for Tal has perhaps just pipped me at the post.

"I'm sad I can't bring him here and work with him again. I like the lad an awful lot and we know each other really well. But the lure of Chelsea is a big one."

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