Chelsea confirm Drogba signing

Didier Drogba tonight became Chelsea’s record signing when he completed his transfer from Marseille, for a reported £24m (€35.9m).

New Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has long been an admirer of the Ivory Coast international, and first tried to sign the striker when he was manager at Porto two years ago.

Marseille initially had an £18m (€26.9m) bid for the 26-year-old turned down, but the two clubs eventually settled on an improved fee earlier this week.

The paperwork of the three-year deal was completed this evening, and Drogba will now jet off with the rest of the Chelsea squad to Seattle tomorrow for the start of a three-match tour which will see the Blues face Celtic, Roma and AC Milan.

“I am very happy to be here and am looking forward to playing for my new team,” Drogba told Chelsea TV.

“I want to do well with my national team and my club, so I will do my best to be better than I was last season at Marseille.”

The size of the fee makes Drogba a British record signing for a striker.

In another development, Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has signed a new four-year deal with the club.