Football: Chelsea confirm Joe Cole and Michael Ballack departure

June 10, 2010

, a football club based in London, United Kingdom, have confirmed that and  will be leaving on  during the summer transfer window.

Chelsea, the current champions, reportedly stated they did not wish to offer Cole, an English international currently with the  at the  in South Africa, another contract for next season. They declined to offer Germany captain 33-year-old Ballack a new deal; the player had been missing out on the World Cup with injury.

Cole has been at the club since joining from fellow London side in 2003, while Ballack's previous club was  of Germany, arriving under.

Ballack was claimed to be "extremely surprised" by the news, having been on holiday in Miami, United States at the time of being informed, according to agent Michael Becker. Ballack had previously rejected a reduced-wage, one-year contract, and was once the highest-earner at Chelsea, with a weekly wage of 121,000 (US$175,123).

Several sources believe that many top finishers in the Premier League, including runners-up, are keen to speak to 28-year-old Cole, as he has been free to initiate negotiations since January. However, no deal has yet been confirmed to have started.