LONDON - Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba will leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of next month, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Drogba, 34, joined Chelsea from Olympique Marseille in 2004 and scored 157 goals in 341 appearances.
"I wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving Chelsea," Drogba said on the club website (www.chelseafc.com).
"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."
Drogba enjoyed a glittering eight years in the Premier League in which he won three league titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups. He capped his trophy-laden career at the west London club by starring in their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday, when he scored a late equaliser before netting the decisive penalty in the shootout.
"Didier is undoubtedly a Chelsea legend and will always be part of the Chelsea family," Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said.
"He is leaving on a high after Saturday but he feels the time is right for a new challenge. We have known for some time that this outcome was likely but Didier and the club only made a final decision in the last couple of days, because for obvious reasons neither Didier nor the club wanted to distract focus from the Champions League final.
"The talks were amicable and we wish him all the best. He is welcome back at any time - either as a player or as a guest."
Drogba has been linked with a move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua where he would join up with former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka.
Drogba confirms his exit from the Blues
LONDON - Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba will leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of next month, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Drogba, 34, joined Chelsea from Olympique Marseille in 2004 and scored 157 goals in 341 appearances.
"I wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving Chelsea," Drogba said on the club website (www.chelseafc.com).
"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."
Drogba enjoyed a glittering eight years in the Premier League in which he won three league titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups. He capped his trophy-laden career at the west London club by starring in their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday, when he scored a late equaliser before netting the decisive penalty in the shootout.
"Didier is undoubtedly a Chelsea legend and will always be part of the Chelsea family," Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said.
"He is leaving on a high after Saturday but he feels the time is right for a new challenge. We have known for some time that this outcome was likely but Didier and the club only made a final decision in the last couple of days, because for obvious reasons neither Didier nor the club wanted to distract focus from the Champions League final.
"The talks were amicable and we wish him all the best. He is welcome back at any time - either as a player or as a guest."
Drogba has been linked with a move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua where he would join up with former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka.
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