New deal for Blues’ Carvalho

PORTUGAL international Ricardo Carvalho has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.

The centre-half agreed the deal yesterday on his 29th birthday, and it will come as welcome news after being ruled out of today’s FA Cup Final at Wembley with a knee injury.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon said: “We are delighted Riccy has committed himself to us for the next five years. He has been a key player for us since he joined and has been in fantastic form this season. Without doubt he is one of the best central defenders in the world.”

Carvalho followed manager Jose Mourinho to Chelsea in the summer of 2004 in a deal worth just under £20 million, after helping Porto to the Champions League crown that May.

He helped the Blues to successive Premiership titles and formed a commanding central defensive partnership with John Terry.

Although this season has seen the Londoners relinquish their title, Mourinho has singled out his countryman for special praise after maintaining his form despite being forced to play alongside a string of different partners due to injuries at Stamford Bridge.