Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.

The 30-year-old will link up with his new team-mates at Cobham for the beginning of pre-season on Monday (July 5).

'I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful,' said the Israeli international, who has signed a three-year contract.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti added: 'We are happy to have this new player. Yossi has a lot of quality in midfield and can play in lots of positions. I like his behaviour on the pitch and he will do a great job for us next season.'

Benayoun spent three seasons at Liverpool having first moved to the Premier League in 2005 when he joined West Ham from Spanish club Racing Santander.

The 5ft 8in midfielder captains his national team, and is comfortable either on the wing or behind the forward line.

The first chance to see Benayoun in a Chelsea shirt could come at Crystal Palace on July 17, in our first pre-season friendly of the summer.