Chelsea saw for the first time, on Saturday, albeit briefly, their new signing Michael Essien. The Ghanaian officially signed for the Blues on Friday, yet he didn’t come cheaply. Chelsea had to pay £24.4m for his services.

So what can the Stamford Bridge faithful look forward to seeing from their record signing?

Essien is one of the most versatile players around - last season at Lyon, he played in defence, in central midfield and on the right side of midfield, missing only two games through suspension.

Any team with Essien in is likely to be dangerous on the counterattack.

Over the years to come, be prepared to see a lot of swarming blue shirts moving up the pitch as Essien turns defence into attack.

In his own words: “My game is all about giving the ball quickly, breaking up the opposition’s movement and moving forward.” Former Lyon manager Paul le Guen was full of praise for the Ghana international last year, saying: “I haven’t seen anyone like him - he’s unbelievable. I just wish we could use him as a defender and a midfielder at the same time.”

At Lyon, the 22-year-old played a key role in a midfield-dominated team that won the title. Sound familiar? According to his new boss, Jose Mourinho: “Lyon played the same system as Chelsea play, so for him it is just a change of shirts and a change the faces around him. His position on the pitch is the same, his role in the tactical organisation is very similar.”

This was the same boss who, on Essien’s first day, gave defender Ricardo Carvalho a dressing-down in front of the whole team.

It seems unlikely that Essien will be on the receiving end of a similar outburst. Nearly all those who work with him praise his professional attitude. Even when being courted by foreign clubs, and being played out of position at Lyon, he remained dedicated to the cause, saying that he has a “respect for heirarchy” and that he would “never dispute an order”.

Unlike Carvalho, Essien realises that he may not automatically be a first-choice player, and that competition for the starting eleven will be fierce.

"It is going to be tough, but I am ready to fight for a place in the team. I know what I'm getting myself into. It was the same at Lyon to begin with - they had a lot of people in midfield and it wasn't always easy, but I fought for my place. I'll do the same in London.”

In Essien, Mourinho has a very special talent; a man who respects authority, and imposes himself on the pitch; a physical, strong player, with a game seemingly suited to England; someone who can pass the ball through Chelsea’s multi-million pound squad with consummate ease; a man who can speak English fluently and, perhaps most importantly, a player who is finally playing in the League he has always dreamed of playing in.

Four months ago, Essien made it clear that he had his heart set on a move to the Premiership. “In England, the game is based on physical strength and that’s what I like. I think I can adapt well. I think I have the qualities to play there - I’ll be happy in England,” he said.

Yet while there is no doubt that Chelsea have an exceptional player, many have said that he is over-priced – including Essien himself. "I know what I'm worth in sporting terms and it's clear that I'm not worth £26m,” he said.