Friday's new arrival Alex believes he is in a good condition to start competing for a place in the Chelsea side straight away.

The player, whose full name is Alex Rodrigo Dias Da Costa and is pictured here with club secretary David Barnard, has taken only a short break from the game after summer international activity and told Chelsea TV after signing a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge:

'I had one week without training at all and once I have talked with the coach, I am going to see when I can start training,' he said, speaking in Portuguese through an interpreter. 'But if it depends, I will start straight away, even today.

'I hope to start very soon and to do a good job in this wonderful club.

'I am happy for the opportunity Chelsea have given me. It's a wonderful club, I sometimes watch the games and I hear about the club and I hope everything goes well.

'I hope to adapt myself very quickly because Ricardo Carvalho and the coaches are Portuguese and they will help me with the language barrier,' he explained. I hope I won't have any problem to be on the team.'

Chief executive Peter Kenyon welcomed the latest addition to the squad, stating:

'It seems like a long time coming this one. We had it agreed a long time ago but with the Copa America, he has joined us at the start of the season literally.

'He has kept fit over the summer and he is a good addition to the squad. He has got to be our biggest player and he could be quite intimidating.

'Last season we lost out when there was that crucial period where we had injuries around central defence. I think we've definitely strengthened in that position and Tal (Ben-Haim) has got other positions he can play so I think we are very well covered and with very good quality as well.'

The Brazilian international defender is 25-years-old and joins Chelsea after three years playing in Holland at PSV Eindhoven. Chelsea had the first option to sign him.

Prior to PSV, Alex played in his homeland at Santos, the São Paulo club made famous around the globe by Pelé.

After moving to Europe, Alex was part of a side that won three consecutive Dutch league titles with a domestic double completed in 2004-5. In the Champions League last season he made the headlines by heading the goal that knocked Arsenal out at the first knockout stage.

Having made his international debut in 2003, he was part of the Brazil side that won the Copa America this summer, playing in the 3-0 defeat of Argentina in the Final. He has 14 caps to his name.