Tal Ben Haim admits it was difficult to turn down a reunion with Sam Allardyce at Newcastle United.
Ben Haim's former Bolton boss Allardyce had been hoping to persuade the defender to join him at St James' Park.
And Ben Haim accepts it was not easy to reject the chance to work with his old manager again.
"It is a dream come true as Chelsea are the biggest club in the world," said Ben Haim in the Sun.
"It was hard to turn down Newcastle because Sam Allardyce helped me take my first steps in English football, which I will never forget."
