Madrid  - Spanish Liga club Espanyol announced on Monday the signing of Israeli teenage striker Ben Sahar from Chelsea, for an undisclosed fee.

Ben Sahar, 17, has agreed to a four-year contract with the Catalan club. He was also wanted by Dutch giants Ajax.

Chelsea have loaned out Ben Sahar in the past two years to Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and De Graafschap.

Espanyol are also close to signing Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, 30, from Celtic, according to British and Spanish press reports.

Last week Espanyol - who finished 10th in La Liga last season - extended the contract of veteran playmaker Ivan de la Pena, 33, for two more seasons.(dpa)