Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been carried off the pitch by his team-mates after announcing he will leave the club for a second time. Blues players hoisted the injured Ivorian from the Stamford Bridge pitch in the first half of his final game – a 3-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday.
Drogba, 37, first signed for the club in 2004 and has scored a total of 164 goals in 381 appearances.
This season he returned to the club and, for the fourth time in his Chelsea career, won the Premier League. He also added a third League Cup winners’ medal to his extensive collection. His significant contribution has been felt both on and off the pitch.
Didier said: ‘I want to play for at least one more season and in order to play more football I feel I need to go to another club. All the fans know my love for Chelsea and I hope to be back here in the future in another role.’
The Ivorian first signed in the summer of 2004 and went on to enjoy eight hugely successful seasons, which included numerous cup semi-final and final goals and many other match-winning moments.
This season he has scored seven times. His first goal since returning, a coolly converted spot-kick against Maribor, sent the Stamford Bridge faithful wild with delight.
