Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed a new four-year deal running until 2010.
The 28-year-old cost Chelsea £24m when he joined from Marseille in July 2004 and has been in fine form this season with 10 goals in 15 games.
“I am not playing well just because I wanted to sign a new contract,” Drogba told Chelsea TV.
“I’m playing well as I feel good and I am happy to train with my friends.”
There were doubts cast over Drogba’s future at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea signed striker Andrii Shevchenko in the summer.
However, since the start of the season Drogba has been in impressive form, while Shevchenko has struggled.
“I want to say thank you to Jose (Mourinho) for believing in me since the beginning and now we will be together for a long time. The best period of my career I think.
“I am happy because when I came here it wasn’t easy for me to say I would be signing a new contract with Chelsea, because everybody knows the first year was difficult.
“The second one was okay but I knew I could do better.”
