25th July, 2014
Chelsea Football Club has resigned striker Didier Drogba on a one-year deal. Drogba left Turkish giant Galatasary in the summer after he contract expired.
A statement on Chelsea website read: Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the return of Didier Drogba. The striker has signed a one-year contract.
“Drogba of course needs no introduction. When he came to the end of his previous contract in 2012 it was only weeks after he had stroked the ball from the penalty spot into the Bayern Munich net to place Chelsea on top of the European summit for the first time.”
The Ivorian’s equalising header in that Champions League final was his 157th goal in 341 appearances, a total placing him fourth in the club’s all-time highest-scorer list.
On signing Drogba said: “It was an easy decision – I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again. Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.
“My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career.”
Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho had earlier confirmed his interest in bring Drogba back to Stamford Bridge. “He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe. I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.”
During Drogba’s first eight years at Chelsea he scored 34 goals in European competition, a Chelsea record. He also scored nine times in nine cup finals.
Drogba won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups as well as the Champions League triumph. He has been named Chelsea’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year and has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice.
Since leaving Chelsea in 2012 he has played for Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray, memorably making a return to Stamford Bridge last season when we beat the Turkish club in the Champions League Round of 16.
He has continued his international career and appeared in all three of Ivory Coast’s games at the World Cup, taking his caps total to 104 with 64 goals scored.