Chelsea sign Senegal international Papy Djilobodji from Nantes on a four-year contract

French Ligue 1 club Nantes confirmed on Tuesday that their Senegal international defender Papy Djilobodji has joined English Premier League champions Chelsea on a four-year deal.

"FC Nantes, Chelsea and Papy Djilobodji have reached an agreement for the transfer of the Senegalese international. Papy Djilobodji is a Blues player for the next four seasons," Nantes announced on their website.

Chelsea made their move for Djilobodji after failing in their protracted attempts to sign England international John Stones from Everton.

French sports daily L'Equipe reported that the fee for the 26-year-old, who had just a year left on his contract at the Stade de la Beaujoire, was just over three million euros (£2.2m, $3.4m).

Djilobodji, who has been a regular in the Nantes side since signing in 2010 and helped them win promotion to Ligue 1 in 2013, will provide competition in central defence to John Terry, Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma.