Real Madrid sign Essien on loan from Chelsea

Real Madrid [ Images ] agreed to take Ghana midfielder Michael Essien [ Images ] on loan from Chelsea [ Images ] for the rest of the season, the Spanish champions said on Friday,

The 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Olympique Lyon [ Images ] in 2005, links up again with former Stamford Bridge [ Images ] boss Jose Mourinho.

The combative midfielder has won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League [ Images ] at the London [ Images ] club.

Essien did not feature when Champions League winners Chelsea were thumped 4-1 by Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup in Monaco on Friday.