The France international revealed last month that he had agreed terms on a contract extension at Stamford Bridge and he has now put pen-to-paper on the deal to keep him in West London until 2012.

Malouda, who joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2007, enjoyed his best season to date for the club last term with the winger producing a string of consistent displays under Guus Hiddink.

“We agreed during my holidays and I have signed now I’ve come back,” Malouda told the club’s official website.

“I am really happy because it shows a mutual trust between the club and myself and for me it is just the beginning of the story.

“The last six months especially I was feeling great, plus we won a trophy that was really important to me. I feel really good and you can see it on the pitch and I hope we get more trophies.

Malouda is looking forward to working under new Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti and he revealed he has been asked to play in a new position by the Italian.

“I was really happy when I heard it was Carlo Ancelotti because I have a lot of respect for him and at my former club Lyon I played many times against Milan. For me it is a really good choice and I believe in him,” added Malouda.

“This year he wants to try the new system with a diamond so I have to adapt myself and that is why we are training really hard to do what the manager wants.

“It is a different role for me but that is part of my game, I can play in many positions, and I have played it a few times in Lyon when there were injuries and in the France national team I have played many times this position.”

Ballack sustained a toe injury during Chelsea’s trip to the United States and he has been ruled out of the rest of the tour

The 32-year-old has been forced to return to England to have treatment on the injury.

It is feared the German may have broken his toe, meaning Ballack is a major doubt for the Community Shield against Manchester United on 9th August and the start of the Premier League season at home to Hull on 15th August.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Ballack is struggling with a toe problem, but that he has no other injury concerns to deal with.

“Ballack yesterday took a knock on the toe, but everybody else is okay and didn’t have injuries in this period,” Ancelotti told the club’s official website.

After a slight delay, the travelling Blues party touched down in Seattle on Thursday afternoon in blistering heat.

With news of Joe Cole’s operation before the departure ruling him out of flying, and Paulo Ferreira’s continued rehabilitation after cruciate ligament damage, it was an otherwise full squad that departed for America.

After transfer to the team hotel in downtown Seattle, there was a traditional team stroll before some free time.

Training will commence on Friday with a double session before the first game of the tour on Saturday, against the new MLS team Seattle Sounders.

During day two of Chelsea’s US tour, the squad visited Seahawks training facility in Renton, Washington. Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack took tips from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck before heading over to their 4pm PT training session at Qwest Field.

Chelsea are preparing for tomorrow’s 3pm ET game against Seattle Sounders, which will be televised live on ESPN2.

A beautiful setting, beautiful weather, a sell-out 69,000 crowd awaiting tomorrow and jaw-dropping training facilities – it’s pretty easy to see why Chelsea chose to begin the 2009 tour of the United States in Seattle.

A cruciate knee ligament injury in January ruled 27-year-old Cole out for the rest of the 2008/2009 season.

He recently returned to training but suffered a small tear to his meniscus in the knee and has undergone surgery.

“We expect Cole to return to full training in approximately one month,” said a statement on Chelsea’s website.

Chelsea called the blow a “minor setback” but it will prove further frustration for Cole and the Blues

The playmaker provides Chelsea with a creative spark while he will also be eager to return to the first-team and force his way back into the England team ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals.

Chelsea will leave for the US on Thursday and will play four matches on the trip, starting with a match against Seattle Sounders on Saturday, 18 July.

Ibrahimovic admits he is flattered by Chelsea’s interest, but insists money will not be the main motivating factor in any move.

“I am fully aware that Chelsea want to sign me and, of course, it is very flattering,” Ibrahimovic told the News of the World.

“They are one of the biggest teams in Europe and the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world.

“Money is not the most important thing, I will base my decision on what’s good for me, what suits me.”

“It is about asking: will I still be able to be special in the league that I am going to, to the team that I am going to?

“Are my qualities right for the Premier League or not?”

New Blues role for Arnesen

Chelsea have appointed Frank Arnesen to the role of sporting director at Stamford Bridge.

Porto defender Bruno Alves admits he is tempted by a move to the Premier League with Chelsea said to be chasing the highly-rated defender

Alves was tipped to move to Real Madrid at the end of last season but it now appears Chelsea could look to sign the Portugal international as a replacement for the unsettled Ricardo Carvalho.

However, as Alves reveals, they could face stiff competition from Barcelona.

“I’m open to a move to England. I’m aware of Chelsea’s interest and also Barcelona,” he told the Daily Mail.

“But I’m under contract to Porto and any decision comes down to the club.”

John Obi Mikel has signed a new long-term contract with Chelsea

The midfielder has signed a five-year contract with the Blues answering some speculation about his future out in the press.

Deco says he is willing to stay at Chelsea this season, but believes things must change at Stamford Bridge

“I am getting tired of Europe, but out of respect for Chelsea, I will stay on this continent a while longer,” Deco told A Bola.

“I have some offers from other clubs, but if I stay at Chelsea it’s important that some things change because things happened last year that I did not like.

“I have had some adaptation problems in England and I’ve been sidelined with several injuries.”

The Blues have long been linked with Valencia star David Villa while AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo and Alexandre Pato have been viewed as targets following the Stamford Bridge arrival of former San Siro boss Carlo Ancelotti. The likes of Franck Ribery and Carlos Tevez have also been linked with the Blues.

Ribery is being chased by several big clubs

However, eye-catching buys have yet to materialise, with just Yuri Zhirkov completing his move from CSKA Moscow on a three-year contract on Tuesday to truly grab the headlines.

Having only finished third in the Premier League last season, it has been suggested Roman Abramovich is again prepared to make his mark on the transfer market after a couple of low-key years.

And Buck has confirmed hopes are high of securing a box-office name, telling Chelsea TV: “We are looking for a marquee name, if that is the right terminology.

“But, as you know, as you read about in the papers, most of the big clubs are chasing the same players.

“We are only going to get one of those top-notch players, and there aren’t very many of them, if the price is right and he fits into our team appropriately.

“But we are looking and we are optimistic.”

The Italian has taken charge at Stamford Bridge this summer after leaving his role as AC Milan manager at the end of last season.

He has been linked with moves for some of his former players, including striker Alexandre Pato and midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

The Blues have already signed Yuri Zhirkov, Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull and Ancelotti has stayed quiet on his plans for further recruitment.

He said: “I don’t want to speak the names of the players.

“The club control the market, Pato and Pirlo are Milan players.”

There has been speculation about the future of Didier Drogba but Ancelotti is an admirer of the Ivory Coast international and intends to keep him.

Drogba is very much a part of Ancelotti's plans

“Drogba is a great striker and I want to use his quality for the team,” he explained.

“He is strong but he also has technical quality.”

Ancelotti is also set to hold talks with Andriy Shevchenko, who spent last season on loan with the manager at Milan.

He struggled to make much of an impact and, having also found it difficult to find his best form at Chelsea, it is unclear where he will ply his trade this term.

“Shevchenko is a Chelsea player and I want to speak with him,” said Ancelotti.

“Shevchenko will come in London on July 9 and will work with us in pre-season and at this moment we speak with him to find the right solution for us.”

Meanwhile, Ancelotti refused to confirm Deco and Ricardo Carvalho would be leaving Stamford Bridge despite the pair being heavily linked with Inter Milan.

The former AC Milan boss said: “Carvalho and Deco are Chelsea players.

“If in the future a player wants to go they have to speak with the club and we take the right decision for the player and for us.”

Ancelotti also insisted he wanted John Terry to be his captain after the England skipper was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City.

The 25-year-old left-back, who has played 28 times for Russia, came to prominence during Euro 2008 when the national side reached the semi-finals.

Zhirkov, who can also play in midfield, has joined on a four-year deal.

Zhirkov takes on Rooney in International play

New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the signing at first official news conference saying: “Zhirkov is naturally on the left.”

He added: “I think he can do all the work and can play in defence and in between.”

The Russian utility player is Chelsea’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and striker Daniel Sturridge.

During his time with CSKA Moscow, Zhirkov helped the Russian club win the Uefa Cup, scoring the second goal in the 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon.

Zhirkov flew to London on Sunday and underwent a medical before completing his transfer.

The CSKA Moscow winger has been rumoured to be close to joining the Blues all summer but it now appears likely that he will be unveiled as manager Carlo Ancelotti’s latest signing next week.

Zhirkov in action for CSKA Moscow

The 25-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the past, is thought to be the subject of an £18million fee and will negotiate personnel terms once his medical is complete.

The Russian daily newspaper Sport Express revealed that Zhirkov had left his homeland to board a plane destined for London earlier on Sunday.

As of yet there has been no confirmation from either club but Sport Express claim that CSKA president Eugene Giner confirmed that the Russian international was close to joining the Blues.

Zhirkov shot to prominence at Euro 2008 where his standout performances alongside team-mate Andrey Arshavin helped guide Russia to the last four.

The 19-year-old made his debut for City in February 2007 and scored four times in 26 appearances last season.

Sturridge, who was City’s young player of the year in 2009, has represented England up to under-20 level.

Because Sturridge is under 24 and turned down a new deal at City, no compensation is due and the clubs may need a tribunal to agree a fee.

City are reportedly looking to get a ‘development fee’ of around £10m for Sturridge, although Chelsea’s valuation is thought to be somewhat lower at an estimated £3m.

City boss Mark Hughes had been keen to keep Sturridge but would not meet what he believed to be excessive wage demands.

Hughes recently told BBC Radio Manchester: “We have made an offer which is a good offer for Daniel at this stage of his career and that was refused a couple of weeks back.”