Chelsea Football Club has agreed terms with Aston Villa for the transfer of Steve Sidwell. The move has now been confirmed.

Sidwell spent one season at Chelsea having joined from Reading on a free transfer in May 2007. He was the first of last summer's arrivals.

In his one season at Stamford Bridge, a stadium located just a short distance from his birthplace, he started 13 games with a further 12 sub appearances. He was used in all four competitions.

Sidwell's debut was as a second-half sub in the Community Shield at Wembley and his first start was away at his former club Reading in the second league match.

In September at Hull in the Carling Cup, a crisply-struck 25-yard shot opened his scoring account. It was his one Chelsea goal. A week later he made his sole Champions League appearance in the win away in Valencia.

The domestic cups after Christmas brought regular games although during a period when other midfielders were away at the African Cup of Nations, Sidwell was not involved in the league as much as anticipated at the time of his transfer.

Michael Ballack's return to fitness meant he dropped out of the restricted-number Champions League squad for the knockout stages and he did not play again after an FA Cup fifth round win over Huddersfield in February.

However at no point did he lose any of his enthusiasm or commitment and he was a popular member of the squad.

Chelsea Football Club would like to thank Steve for his contribution and wish him well at his new club.