SOCCER NEWS:JOHN TERRY has become Chelsea's highest-paid player after signing a new contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2014. The club captain, who was the subject of several bids from Manchester City this summer, has extended his deal by two years and will earn just over €170,000 a week.

That takes him just above the €170,000 a week earned by the midfielder Frank Lampard. City were prepared to pay Terry more than €227,000 a week but, after a lengthy delay, the central defender made a verbal commitment to the club he joined as a teenager.

Terry denied his decision was dependent on being offered a new contract but the England captain swiftly entered into negotiations and has finally concluded a deal which will earn him about €45 million if he sees it out. By the time it expires he will be 33.

Terry has been part of the Chelsea team who, under Carlo Ancelotti, have made an excellent start to the season, winning their first four matches to go top of the Premier League. Yet the Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has insisted there is no alarm at Anfield over Chelsea’s 100 per cent start and is adamant Rafael Benitez’s side will soon close the gap.

Liverpool trail Ancelotti’s squad by six points after the first four matches of the season but secured a valuable victory at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday courtesy of Steven Gerrard’s late winner. Kuyt said: “At this stage it is not important to look at where Chelsea, Man United or Arsenal are because we’ve got to think about our own game and the win at Bolton was very important after our bad start. We will be up there soon and we want to show we belong at the top of the Premier League.

“Chelsea are a top side, we knew that at the start of the season and we’ve seen that so far. But every team will struggle this season. Spurs have spent a lot of money and have had a really good start. Manchester City are up there as well and they will take points off teams.”

The Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje has joined the Greek club Kavala FC on a season-long loan deal.

The Anfield club has been desperate to offload the Frenchman since his disrespectful behaviour at the Hillsborough Memorial Service in April.

• Guardian Service