Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden has signed for Chelsea in a �7.5m deal.

Zenden, who has signed a four-year contract, was confirmed at a news conference on Thursday.

The 24-year-old winger officially left Barcelona on Wednesday and joined up with the London club a day later.

He had originally been a target for Newcastle but after protracted talks turned the North East club down.

Zenden had become a peripheral figure at the Nou Camp in the last year.

Former Arsenal star Marc Overmars was ahead of him for the left-wing berth.

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has been busy in the transfer market this summer.

He had already brought in midfielder Frank Lampard from West Ham, French international Emmanuel Petit from Barcelona and William Gallas from Marseille.

Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson said: "It seems like a long track to have got him, but we're delighted he is here."