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Florent joined Chelsea on the day his team-mates were flying to the United States to begin pre-season training ahead of this campaign. He signed a three-year contract with an undisclosed fee paid to Lyon for the 27-year-old French international winger.

Lyon was Malouda's third club. He began his career in Paris with lower league Châteauroux where he played two seasons before moving up the ladder to Guingamp. In Brittany he teamed up with Didier Drogba and his impressive form over three seasons attracted the attention of Lyon.

Arriving at his new club the same season as Michael Essien, the two shared in championship success, Malouda staying at the Stade Gerland long enough to win a hat-trick of league titles while starring in Champions League displays.

Having moved clubs in 2003, he made his debut for France in November 2004 and was a regular by the time of the 2006 World Cup where France made the final.

Malouda played wide left of the attack and won the penalty that was converted by Zinedine Zidane to open the scoring, although his side would ultimately lose on a shoot-out.

He remains a fixture in and around the French XI, and has been a key member of the Euro 2008 qualifying squad.