THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Didier Drogba became the latest Chelsea player to commit himself to the Premier League club on Wednesday by signing a new three-year deal that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2012.
The 31-year-old striker followed winger Florent Malouda and midfielder John Obi Mikel by agreeing new terms.
“I love the club, I feel good here and I want to continue to win titles with them,” Drogba said. “I stay because I am ambitious to pick up lots more trophies, regain the Premier League title, win cups. It is for this that I have extended my time at Chelsea.
“But my number one objective is to win the Champions League. I am convinced that this year we can go to the end and finally lift this trophy.”
Drogba, though, will miss the first three matches of this season’s group stage after being punished by UEFA for a foul-mouthed rant at the referee when Chelsea was beaten in the semifinals by Barcelona last season.
The Ivory Coast international helped Chelsea win the FA Cup last season by scoring the equalizer in a 2-1 victory over Everton at Wembley. He has won a total of two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups with the club.