Germany captain Michael Ballack has completed his move from Bayern Münich to Premiership champions Chelsea, the London club announced on Monday.

Ballack, 29, has joined José Mourinho's team on a three-year deal after his contract with the Bündesliga side expired this summer.

"For me he is one of the best players in the world," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said of Ballack before the deal was done.

"He's very intelligent, tactically very strong and he scores a lot of goals."

Ballack has won the German Football of the Year award three times. The league and cup double Bayern clinched earlier this month was their third in the four years he has been with them.

The inspirational German captain, who this season has scored 14 league goals from 26 starts, was also a target for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, but Ballack decided to move to Chelsea.

The aquisition of Ballack is a massive coup for Chelsea. In Germany, Ballack is seen as the 'David Beckham' of German football and is considered Germany's top-player, but yet managed to move to Chelsea on a free-tranfer from the German champions, having seen out his contract at the Bündesliga double winning giants.

He will be joining England midfielder Frank Lampard in midfield as the Premiership champions push for Champions League success next season.

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