Striker Didier Drogba has re-signed for Chelsea on a one-year deal.
The Ivorian, 36, won 10 trophies at Chelsea from 2004 to 2012 and was a free agent after leaving Galatasaray.
Manager Jose Mourinho
had earlier said
the forward "belongs" at Stamford Bridge - but that any deal would be made "in a non-emotional way".
Drogba
told Chelsea's official site:
"It was an easy decision - I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again."
He said: "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."
Drogba's career at Chelsea |
|---|
|
Debut: v Manchester United, 15 August 2004 |
|
First goal: v Crystal Palace, 24 August 2004 |
|
Appearances: 341 |
|
Goals: 157 |
|
Honours: Premier League: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10; FA Cup: 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12; League Cup: 2004-05, 2006-07 Champions League: 2011-12 |
|
Premier League top goalscorer: 2007, 2010 |
Mourinho said: "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."
Drogba, who joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24m in
July 2004, won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League
Cups and a Champions League during his spell at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba wrote on his Instagram
account: "So CFC offered me the opportunity to create more history with
these guys - how could I say no? Thanks to the club and can't wait to
see the fans again"
He left the club in 2012 after scoring the winning penalty in the
Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
After a brief spell at Chinese Super League side
Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba joined Galatasaray in January 2013 and scored
five goals in 13 league games as the Turkish club won the title.
The following season, the striker netted 10 times in 32
games as Galatasaray reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League
- where they lost to Chelsea - and finished as runners-up to Fenerbahce
in the Turkish league.
The Ivory Coast international was voted Chelsea's greatest ever player in a poll of fans in 2012 and has
spoken of his close ties
to the Blues.
His 34 goals for Chelsea in European competition remains a club record, as do his nine strikes in nine cup finals.
Drogba made an emotional return to Stamford Bridge last season with Galatasary in the Champions League quarter-finals
Mourinho had previously said: "If you bring him back it
is not because he is Didier or scored the most important goal in the
history of Chelsea, or because I read I need an assistant, no.
"We want to win matches and win titles and Didier is
one of the best strikers in Europe. He is still very adapted to the
needs of the Premier League and we are thinking about it in a
non-emotional way."
Mourinho also intimated that Drogba, who made one start
and two substitute appearances during the Ivory Coast's three games at
the 2014 World Cup, would be a squad player.
He joins Fernando Torres, new signing Diego Costa, as
well as Romelu Lukaku and Victor Moses, who both spent last season out
on loan, as striking options at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba beats Manuel Neuer at the Allianz Arena in May 2012 as Chelsea won the Champions League final
Drogba wins the Champions League for the first time in Chelsea's history
The Didier Drogba banner at Stamford Bridge
# KIM #
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