Cahill completes £7m Chelsea move

Gary Cahill Chelsea have long been linked with a swoop for Bolton centre back Gary Cahill, and after agreeing a fee with the Trotters, the player has been holding talks with the club. But, there are stumbling blocks over the players' contract (GETTY IMAGES)

The England centre-back Gary Cahill completed his move from Bolton Wanderers to Chelsea yesterday. The 26-year-old joins for a fee of £7million after two weeks of negotiation over personal terms.

Cahill, who was out of contract at the end of the season, was thrilled to have joined Andre Villas-Boas's side, currently in fourth place in the Premier League. "Chelsea is a massive club, it is a club that looks to win trophies season-in season-out and it is a big opportunity for me to be a part of that," he said yesterday. "Opportunities like this you can't turn down."

The defender spent three years at Bolton after joining from Aston Villa for £5m. Cahill has seven full England caps: he made his debut in September 2010 against Bulgaria, and scored in the return fixture in Sofia one year later.

Owen Coyle wants to replace Tim Cahill with the New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream. "He is a player we would love to bring to the football club," Coyle said of the 24-year-old United States international. "Hopefully in the next few days that can come to fruition."

Everton are welcoming Ream's US international team-mate Edson Buddle on trial. The 30-year-old striker, who plays for the second-tier German side FC Ingolstadt, is a former LA Galaxy team-mate of Landon Donovan, who is himself currently on loan at Goodison Park. Buddle was in the American squad for the 2010 World Cup, and came off the bench in the 1-1 draw with England.

Coventry City have signed Hermann Hreidarsson on loan from Portsmouth until the end of the season. The veteran defender is due to leave Fratton Park at the end of this season after five years there.

The Celtic striker Gary Hooper has deflected any talk of a £6m move to Southampton. "I don't want to go anywhere," he said. "I'm a Celtic player and very happy here."