Nicolas Anelka became the first of two signings under Avram Grant's management when he completed his transfer in January 2008.

He signed a three-and-a-half year deal and his reported fee means that more money has been spent on transferring Nicolas over the course of his career than on any other player in football history.

He was a transfer window move from Bolton where he had already scored 11 times in 22 appearances that season.

In total, the 28-year-old netted 23 times in his 60 games for the Lancashire side, since signing from Turkish club Fenerbahçe in August 2006.

Nicolas began his career at Paris St-Germain, before making a move to Arsenal as a 17-year-old in early 1997.

At Highbury, the youngster demonstrated his explosive pace and finishing ability, helping the team to the Double in 1998, scoring in the FA Cup final victory over Newcastle.

A year later, Real Madrid offered £23 million for his services, enough to tempt both Arsenal and Nicolas to accept the bid, and in his only season in Spain, he claimed the Champions League trophy, again playing in the final as Madrid ran out 3-0 winners over Valencia.

After just 12 months at the Bernabéu, Anelka returned to Paris with St-Germain, and in 18 months scored 18 goals before a loan spell at Liverpool under fellow Frenchman Gérard Houllier.

Although not an automatic choice at Anfield, Nicolas impressed with his work rate and creativity, but eventually made a permanent move to Manchester City to play for Kevin Keegan.

At City, Anelka found the net regularly, notching up 46 goals during his two-and-a-half year stay. A penalty, both won and scored by him in October 2004 was responsible for Chelsea's only league defeat in our first championship-winning season under José Mourinho.

Nicolas's time at Fenerbahçe was equally successful. He averaged a goal in just over every three games during his spell there, alerting Sam Allardyce to make a bid, and he subsequently signed for Bolton at the start of last season.

His form remained consistent at the Reebok Stadium, and he has been a regular member of the French squad over the last decade, scoring 11 times in 43 appearances.

Nicolas was a key member of the France side that lifted the 2000 European Championship and part of the squad that played in Euro 2008, although he started just once and came on twice as France fell well short.

The start of his first half-season at Chelsea was all about plugging the large gap left by Didier Drogba's call-up to Africa, and he scored the winner in an FA Cup game at Wigan in his third appearance.

The second goal came a week later at Portsmouth but there the scoring ended for the season. When Drogba returned, the newer striker was at times asked to play wide rather than as a pair, including in the Carling Cup Final defeat.

However it was played in tandem late in the game that a 1-0 deficit against Arsenal in March was turned into a 2-1 win.

It will, unfortunately, be for another substitute appearance that Nicolas's first five months at Chelsea will be most remembered. Entering the game in Moscow in the 99th minute, it was his sudden death miss that ended the penalty shoot-out and sent the European Cup to Manchester.

Nicolas, who has declared his hope that Chelsea be the final destination in a much-travelled career, is keen to erase the memory with a season of success in 2008/09. Certainly it started that way as he raced to the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts, where he remained into the new year despite going two months without a league goal.

The arrival of Guus Hiddink has prompted a link-up with Didier Drogba who has been utilised as the main central attacking force, edging Anelka wider where he has continued to contribute. The pairing has shown signs of flourishing, and both will be aiming to maintain their eye for goal as the season enters its vital period.

 After his electric start, Anelka's goals have slowed but his all-round game has drawn plaudits as he dropped deeper and wider to provide assists, notably for Drogba against Liverpool in the Champions League and Fulham in domestic action, where he returned to the scoresheet after 13 games without netting.