Chelsea leave it late to sign Raul Meireles from Liverpool
Portugal midfielder moves to Stamford Bridge for £12m, while Yossi Benayoun joins Arsenal on loan

Meireles handed in a transfer request on Wednesday Photo: Ludovic Péron, via Flickr
Chelsea have completed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles on a four-year deal after a late scurry of transfer activity on Wednesday night.
The 28-year-old Portugal international handed in a written transfer request late on Wednesday as the former Porto player looked to force a move to Stamford Bridge.
And the deal, believed to be worth around £12m, went through minutes before the Premier League’s deadline.
The Reds had earlier this week turned down an offer of £8m plus Yossi Benayoun from the Londoners for the midfielder.
Chelsea boss André Villas-Boas worked briefly with the Portugal international at Porto before Meireles joined Liverpool last summer.
Meanwhile, Chelsea playmaker Benayoun joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season.

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