Mutu joining Chelsea say Parma

Parma tonight confirmed Chelsea have signed Romania striker Adrian Mutu.

The deal for the 24-year-old – worth £15.8m to Mutu’s Italian club - will take Chelsea’s summer spending spree over the £75million mark, bankrolled by new owner, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Mutu scored 17 Serie A goals and four in the UEFA Cup last season. He has been considered one of the hottest striking properties in Serie A although he failed to win a regular first-team place at Inter Milan whom he joined from Dinamo Bucharest in 2000.

But he found greater success with Verona and after two seasons with them he moved to Parma for the start of the 2002-03 season.

At Parma he forged an attractive strike partnership with Adriano, playing just behind the Brazilian in a more creative role.