Portugal international Ricardo Carvalho has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.

The centre-half agreed the deal on Friday, on his 29th birthday, and it will come as welcome good news after being ruled out of today's FA Cup final at Wembley with a knee injury.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "We are delighted that Riccy has committed himself to us for the next five years.

"He has been a key player for us since he joined and has been in fantastic form this season. Without doubt he is one of the best central defenders in the world.

Carvalho followed manager Jose Mourinho to Chelsea in the summer of 2004 in a deal worth just under £20million, after helping Porto to the Champions League crown that May.

He helped the Blues to successive Barclays Premiership titles on his arrival and formed a commanding central defensive partnership with England captain John Terry.