Chelsea raid London neighbours QPR for France forward Loic Remy

Premier League leaders Chelsea have completed the signing of France forward Loic Remy from west London neighbours QPR, after activating his reported release clause of £10.5m.

Remy, 27, has penned a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge, and spent last season on loan at Newcastle United. His arrival at the Blues follows the exit of £50m flop Fernando Torres, who joined AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.

Arsenal, another London club, had expressed an interest in signing Remy as Arsene Wenger seeks cover from compatriot and Gunners striker Olivier Giroud, who is out until the New Year with a broken leg.

Chelsea’s swoop for Remy first came to light just a few hours before the Hoops hosted Sunderland in the Premier League. Once the Blues activated his release clause, Harry Redknapp made changes, despite the player reportedly saying he was willing to play.

Losing Remy did not effect QPR, however, who switched to a 4-3-3 formation after playing with a back three in their other league outings, and beat the Black Cats courtesy of a Charlie Austin strike.

Remy enhanced his reputation by netting 14 times for Newcastle last term in 26 outings. One of those goals came against Chelsea in a 2-0 win at St James’ Park.

Earlier this summer, Remy was on the verge of joining up with Jose Mourinho’s protege Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, but the move fell through when he failed a medical.

At the Bridge, Remy will compete with £32m summer signing Diego Costa and veteran Didier Drogba, who returned to the Blues following his release from Galatasaray, for a starting spot.

Mourinho has entirely revamped his attack now, as Torres’ exit follows that of Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o. Both of these players joined Everton, for £28m and on a free transfer respectively.

QPR are now short in attack, with just Austin, Chile forward Eduardo Vargas, loaned in from Napoli, and Bobby Zamora, the man who scored the goal that earned them promotion back to the Premier League, on their books.