Chelsea Football Club
can confirm Didier Drogba will be leaving the club when his contract expires at
the end of June.
Didier has spent eight
years at Chelsea, and everyone at the club would like to thank him for his
service and wish him luck and continued success for the future.
Chelsea Chief Executive
Ron Gourlay said: 'Didier is undoubtedly a Chelsea legend and will always be
part of the Chelsea family. He is certainly leaving on a high after Saturday
night but he feels the time is right for a new challenge.
'Of course Didier has
contributed so much to all of Chelsea's recent successes. He has been a
consummate professional during his entire time here and as one of the natural
leaders in our squad he has been an inspiration to a lot of our younger
players.
'We have known for some
time that this outcome was likely but Didier and the club only made a final
decision on that in the last couple of days, because for obvious reasons
neither Didier nor the club wanted to distract focus away from the Champions
League Final.
'The talks were amicable
all the way through and we wish him all the best for the future. He is welcome
back to Stamford Bridge at any time - either as a player or as a guest of
ours.'
Didier leaves Chelsea
having scored 157 goals in 341 appearances. He is the club's fourth all-time
highest scorer, his 34 goals in European competition is a Chelsea record by 10
goals and his nine strikes in nine cup finals has contributed immensely to the
most successful period in the club's history.
He won three Premier
League titles, four FA Cups, two Carling Cups and now, in the most dramatic and
glorious of circumstances, the Champions League. He has been named Chelsea's
Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year and won the Premier League
Golden Boot twice.
The 34-year-old said: 'I
wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving
Chelsea. It has been a very difficult decision for me to make and I am very
proud of what we have achieved but the time is right for a new challenge for
me.
'As a team we have
accomplished so much and have won every single trophy possible. Saturday was a
very special moment for everyone at the club and for all the fans, and I am
very proud to have played my part in bringing many trophies to this club, which
has been my home for the last eight years.
'I would like to take
this opportunity to thank everyone at the club especially Roman and my
team-mates, many of whom have become very close friends and will be my friends
for life. I would also like to say a very special thank you to the Chelsea fans
who have shown me so much love and support over the years.
'I wish the club all the best and continued
success for the future - you will always be in my heart.'
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