New Chelsea signing Raul Meireles has admitted that manager Andre Villas-Boas was a key factor in his joining the club.

The 28-year-old joined the Blues on transfer deadline day from Liverpool, having earlier submitted a transfer request at Anfield.

Meireles confessed that the timing of the switch was "strange" but said that he cannot wait to work with his former FC Porto manager once again.

"It was strange, [the last few days] because I knew of the interest of Chelsea, and the interest of the coach, and it was a pleasure to come to this club but it was strange because it was on the last day," the Portuguese international told the club's official website.

"The people think that I wanted to leave [Liverpool] and it is only because Chelsea wanted me. For Andre to want me, that is why I wanted to go."

Meireles could make his Chelsea debut this Saturday away at Sunderland.