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Didier Drogba signs for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments147

Dider Drogba

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

He will team up again at Shanghai with ex-Blues colleague Nicolas Anelka.

Drogba, 34, said: "I considered all the offers I have received in the past few weeks, but feel Shanghai Shenhua is the right move for me at this time."

The Ivory Coast forward's last act in a Chelsea shirt was scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final defeat of Bayern Munich in May.

One of his first games will be against Manchester United with Alex Ferguson's team playing Shanghai Shenhua on 25 July as part of their pre-season tour.

Drogba joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24m in the summer of 2004, becoming one of Jose Mourinho's first signings.

He helped the Blues to win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups during his eight-year spell. In that time he climbed to fourth on the list of Chelsea's all-time goalscorers with 157 and is also the club's leading scorer in European competition with 34. However, he decided to leave the Premier League club after their Champions League triumph.

Drogba said: "I'm looking forward to a new challenge and experiencing a new culture, and am excited about developments in the Chinese Super League.

"When Chelsea went to China last year, we had a great time and I met some amazing fans.

"I hope to help promote Chinese football around the world and further improve the links between China and Africa."

Shanghai Shenhua were the first football club in China to become independent of government control and are majority-owned by local businessman Zhu Jun.

In the past they have signed well-known players including Carsten Jancker and Jorg Albertz.

They play at the Hongkou Stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000.

Zhu Jun believes Drogba's arrival in July will help cement his club on the football map.

He said: "We have been wanting to sign Didier for a while and are very happy that it has finally happened.

"He is an incredible player, who has won so many trophies in his career. We feel that his experience and ability will be a very valuable asset to our squad.

"Shanghai is one of the most influential cities in the world and we are very excited to welcome Didier here."

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147 comments

  • Comment posted by User0064467649, at 11:06 20 Jun 2012

    Good Luck to him, great ambassador to african football.

  • Comment posted by User0951217961, at 11:21 20 Jun 2012

    Good luck to the guy. If he's gone there for the money, so what, his career is almost over why not get a final big paycheck.

    It's not as though he's squandered his fame and fortune. He's done a lot of good in his home continent. Others could learn a lot from him.

  • Comment posted by Sir Algernon Frayed Cuffs, at 11:02 20 Jun 2012

    Good luck to Didier, I hope he realises his new dream of building clinics in his native Ivory coast.

  • Comment posted by Phil A, at 11:21 20 Jun 2012

    Anyone who makes snide remarks about Drogba doing it for the money needs to have a look at the Drogba Foundation and begin to understand what he actually does with the vast amounts of money he has made from Football. Every penny he earns from endorsements goes straight to the Drogba Foundation and is currently funding the building of a hospital and satellite clinics in the Ivory Coast.

  • Comment posted by User0374454314, at 11:07 20 Jun 2012

    I don not care for his reasons, only that I thank him for coming to Chelsea F.C. in the first place. Without him some of my childhood memories would be lost and one of the greatest moments of my life so far, our Champions League journey.

    I thank you greatly for all you have done for Chelsea and I hope to see you playing in the near future.

  • Comment posted by Jesus the Teddy Bear, at 11:09 20 Jun 2012

    A great player (when on two feet) and will be missed in the league.

  • Comment posted by AO, at 11:22 20 Jun 2012

    Why should people say he signed because of the money?
    And even if he did, at least he uses most of the money for a good cause. He builds clinics and owns charities in places where they are needed most!

  • Comment posted by User0493332706, at 15:11 20 Jun 2012

    Some people really don't have a clue......You're telling me that if another company wanted you're services and were willing to pay double wages you would say no?! because you are loyal to you're employer?! At the end of the day, football is now a business and i have no problems footballers leaving for more money, especially when he is coming to the end of his career!

  • Comment posted by Anthony, at 12:48 20 Jun 2012

    Drogba is more than an ambassador when it comes to the right time, and to everyone who complains about higher wages, half of his Premier League wage went to charities back in the Ivory Coast. Besides, even if it was for the money, he more than deserves it. A legit footballer, unlike some drama queens.

  • Comment posted by User0364403749, at 19:29 20 Jun 2012

    Best luck Didi you are will always be a Chelsea Legend!

  • Comment posted by More Like It, at 20:27 20 Jun 2012

    92.
    Barristered
    3 Hours ago

    How funny...Blatter suddenly finds himself promoting GLT after England benefit from FIFA's refusal to implement it.

    ------------------------------------
    how embarassing that would have been for GLT, considering it was offside.

    Good luck to the man who helped stop a civil war in Cote D'Ivoire, not a fan but respect you Didier

  • Comment posted by RedalwaysRed, at 18:37 20 Jun 2012

    @neo068
    I'm a Liverpool Fan and I fully back how drogba played and steered Chelsea to the CL cup! Wasn't it only 2 years ago Ref Ovrebo and barca cheated Chelsea in the CL?!?

    Good Luck to dider drogba....he was a credit to the premiership!

  • Comment posted by User0138791583, at 14:58 20 Jun 2012

    11. Glad1atus
    "I'd challenge any footballer to fund the building of a hospital instead of buying another car."

    Speaking of cars, remember Ashley Cole saying he almost swerved his car when his agent told him (on the phone, no less - naughty, naughty) that he was ONLY going to get £50k a week at Chelsea?

    Drogba's done great things both on and off the pitch, regardless of hystrionics.

  • Comment posted by User0335578540, at 14:53 20 Jun 2012

    Not to mention, the man has seen out the end of his contract and has certainly given his all during the span of the contract.

    How has he NOT earned the right to play where he wants?

    Good luck, Didier.

  • Comment posted by User0127195511, at 16:57 20 Jun 2012

    Some of the comments here make me think whether you guys are real! Drogba is a great footballer who has done it all for Chelsea FC. This is a man that hardly go missing in big games for Chelsea and throughout his 8 years at Chelsea, he has featured in more than 95% of the matches. Unlike Van Persie who only had one fit season since he arrived at Arsenal.

  • Comment posted by Vilyem Hize, at 11:51 20 Jun 2012

    Since he left, Chelsea have had to release 4 medical staff, 2 stretcher bearers and a drama teacher

  • Comment posted by Lord Ralphonzo of the Dinner-Jacket, at 12:52 20 Jun 2012

    Drogba has been an awesome striker for Chelsea, and a great asset to the Premier League, and the Ivory Coast where he has been a uniting force in a deeply divided country. Good luck to him in China. I agree that he has nothing to prove to anyone.

  • Comment posted by Mark_from_Manchester, at 16:07 20 Jun 2012

    Drogba does a huge amount for charity in his home nation.

    I suspect this deal will set his charity up for life and give him a job administrating it for when his footballing days soon end.

    Good luck and thanks for the (mostly great) memories.

  • Comment posted by User0191776830, at 13:57 20 Jun 2012

    To comment on comments from 61 - 57 was referring to the nations comprising the continent of Africa.
    And Drogba personally funds and drives worthy humanitarian projects in Africa. Bigger wage packet ? Bigger donations to these projects. He's a breath of fresh air in this regard.

  • Comment posted by chelseaboogle, at 11:17 20 Jun 2012

    So what if it’s for money

    The man is a legend and in his last few seasons. He has won all he can win and he deserves the chance to play his final days out earning bucket loads of cash.

    He has nothing left to prove or achieve in the bigger leagues as he has done it all with Chelsea

    Best of luck Drogs we all love you and you will always be a true legend.

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