Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed a new four-year contract which will extend his stay at the Stamford Bridge club to six seasons.

The 28-year-old striker was originally signed by manager Jose Mourinho from Marseille in 2004 and after an indifferent start to his career in England he has hit top form this season, scoring 10 goals in all competitions.

Drogba is joint top scorer in both the Premiership and Champions League, hitting five goals in each competition.

"I am not playing well just because I wanted to sign a new contract," the Ivory Coast international told Chelsea TV. "I am playing well because I feel good and I am happy to train with my friends.

"I want to say thank you to Jose 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."