Chelsea FC has let 35-year-old holding midfielder Claude Makélélé, one of the backbone players in the club’s rise to power over the Roman Abramovich-era, has been allowed to move to Paris St. Germain of France’s Ligue 1.  The transfer allows the France international to return to his national league for the final stage of his career while trying to revitalize a tradition-rich club.  He leaves Chelsea on a free transfer after the club let him out of his contract.

Last season, Paris St. Germain finished one spot above relegation in Le Championnat despite winning the Coupe de la Ligue (the French League Cup).  In an effort to bolster their squad for this league season and their UEFA Cup campaign, PSG has sought Makélélé since the end of last season’s Premiership.  With Luiz Felipe Scolari taking over at Stamford Bridge and bringing in his system, Makélélé’s spot in Chelsea’s lineup was not guaranteed, as it was last season.  With John Obi Mikel on the roster as a holding midfielder, Chelsea could afford to let the Frenchman go.

Having acquired Ludovic Giuly from AS Roma last week, PSG is in the process of stocking-up with veterans in the hopes of avoiding another relegation battle.  Makélélé is the second such acquisition, with center back Liliam Thuram, last of Barcelona, also connected with the club.

Makélélé’s departure from Stamford Bridge represents a small changing end-of-an-era.  After coming to Chelsea from Real Madrid (where he had won two league titles and the Champions League), Chelsea immediately became trophy hawk.  In his five seasons with the club, Chelsea won five major honors:  two Premiership titles; one FA Cup; two League Cups.  He made 217 appearances for the Blues, scoring two goals.

Chelsea FC honored Makélélé on the team’s web site, saying his contirbutions form “a personal record that stands alongside any in our history.”

Makélélé’s departure brings to an end the first part of Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich-era.  Brought in during Abramovich’s first summer with the club, his acquisition coincided with the upturn in club performance.  In his second season, after the hiring of manager Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s run of silverware started when the club captured the Premiership and the League Cup.  Makélélé was a major contributor to each accomplishment, with 2004-05 possibly his best season at Stamford Bridge.

Last season was the first in three that Chelsea did not win silverware, leading to the hiring of Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager.  Scolari has sought to trim the club’s first team roster, making Makélélé expendable.  The veteran midfielder, like other French nationals, sought to move to PSG to try an revitalize a club that fought relegation last season.