Blues set for far East trip

Barclays Premiership champions Chelsea have announced they will tour China next year.

Team China have been guests of Chelsea in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

“As part of our commitment to developing football in China, Chelsea will be touring in China in 2008,” said Paul Smith, business affairs director at Stamford Bridge.

“We will be taking our first team and playing games on the mainland.”

Club officials have previously discussed expanding the Chelsea brand globally, which would include trying to break into the Asian and American markets.

The club also view their link with China as an opportunity to help the country’s football development.

Smith added: “This is a long-term project and Team China is a work in progress. Hopefully we are witnessing the development of the team day-by-day.”