Drogba renews contract with Chelsea

Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba has signed a new three-year contract, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

"I have decided to extend my contract with Chelsea for two extra years and I am very happy and proud to continue to wear the blue of Chelsea until then,' said Drogba, who had a year to run on his previous deal.

The 31-year-old, whose new contract with the FA Cup holders runs until 2012, joined Chelsea from Ligue One side Olympique Marseille in 2004 when Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho paid over 20 million pounds ($33.95 million) for him.

The Ivorian had previously been linked with a move to Serie A champions Inter Milan where Mourinho now manages.

"I stay because I am ambitious to pick up lots more trophies, regain the Premier League title, win cups, it's for this that I have extended my time at Chelsea," Drogba told the club website (www.chelseafc.com).

In his five seasons at the west London club Drogba has scored 94 goals in 216 appearances winning two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League cups.

"But my number one objective is to win the Champions League. I am convinced that this year we can go to the end and finally lift this trophy," he said.

Drogba is likely to figure for Chelsea against Manchester United in the Community shield at Wembley stadium on Sunday.

The traditional curtain raiser to the start of the Premier League season will be Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti's first competitive game in charge of the Londoners.