Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Injured German captain Michael Ballack on a two year deal, after the midfielder was allowed to leave Chelsea at the end of his contract.
The 33 year old, who was injured during Chelsea's FA Cup victory in May, leave's Stamford Bridge on a free transfer, just as he arrived in 2006. That move came after he allowed his contract at Bayern Munich run its course before cashing in on the lucrative contracts being offered by the pensioners in the early days of Roman Abramovich's stewardship.
Now with the blues tightening the purse strings, Ballack returns to the club where he first made his name. His free scoring from midfield helped drive his side within a whisker of Bundesliga titles in 2001 and 2002. Before moving to Bayern Munich in 2002, Ballack had already thrust Leverkusen to the Champions League final and Germany, to the World Cup final. But ultimately both sides fell to classier opposition in Real Madrid and Brazil respectively.
Ballack said of the move: "With my transfer to Bayer Leverkusen a circle is complete." Giving fond memories of the club as his primary reason for returning: "I had a beautiful and successful time here, on which I like to look back on a lot,"
The former Kaiserslautern player then turned his gaze to the future, adding: "But above all the good sporting potential of this young and attractive team were persuasive.
"I am especially looking forward to the great fans, who naturally have been key in my decision to return to Bayer."
With a reported remuneration package of €12M over the two year contract, Leverkusen are thought to have beaten off competition from Wolfsburg for the midfielder's signature.
Sporting directory Rudi Voller was thrilled with the transfer coup:
"We did everything to convince Michael. That his preference was for Bayer despite our limited financial possibilities in comparison to the competition, shows his emotional attachment to the club."
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