Football: Rocastle off to Chelsea for 1.25m pounds

CHELSEA signed the Manchester City midfielder David Rocastle for pounds 1.25m last night.

The 27-year-old former Arsenal player joined City from Leeds United last season - in a swop for David White - and made 21 League appearances for them. He had a frustrating time at Elland Road, having cost Leeds pounds 2m, but appeared to settle well at Maine Road and was a favourite with City fans.

'The move came completely out of the blue,' Rocastle said. 'I was on my way to training this morning and was told that the club had accepted a good offer from Chelsea. Chelsea are a young side with a lot of good players. Following their success last year they're in Europe. Hopefully I can use my experience to help them and I'm looking forward to some exciting times.'

Rocastle dismissed any question of him seeking a move back to London. 'Everyone has got this myth about me being homesick. But I settled really well in the North and the people took to me fine. Obviously coming back to London you have got your friends and family a bit nearer, but it was never a case of me yearning to come back to London. I thought that had gone anyway.'

Rocastle, who has 14 England caps, won two championship medals and a Littlewoods Cup medal with Arsenal. He has signed a four-year deal with Chelsea.

Sheffield Wednesday have been ordered by a Football League tribunal to pay pounds 1m for the Port Vale midfielder, Ian Taylor. Bruce Grobbelaar, meanwhile, has completed his move to Southampton after being granted a free transfer by Liverpool, for whom the goalkeeper made more than 400 appearances.