Reading Talisman Steve Sidwell has decided that he needs a fresh challenge having helped Reading to security of Premiership football. Sidwell becomes Jose Mourinho’s first signing of the transfer window.

Sidwell will join the Blues when his contract with Reading finishes at the end of June, to begin pre-season training with his new team mates. The 25 year old has experience of being at a big London club, as he was a product of the Arsenal academy.

The move is a strange one for Sidwell, as he will have to compete with some of football’s biggest talents for a place in the Chelsea side. Shaun Wright-Phillips made a similar move a couple of seasons ago and has only made a handful of starts in a wide position. Sidwell will have to out play Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Geremi, Makelele and others for one of the two central midfield positions. His only conciliation is he will be better rewarded for trying to get in to the Chelsea team than he was for helping Reading to Premiership safety