England left-back Ashley Cole has signed a one-year contract extension at Chelsea, the Barclays Premier League side have confirmed.
Cole’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season and at one stage he was expected to leave Stamford Bridge.
However the 32-year-old, linked with Real Madrid and Paris St Germain recently, has agreed fresh terms at the club he joined from Arsenal in 2006.
Cole said on the club’s official website, www.chelseafc.com, “I am pleased I will be starting my eighth season at Chelsea.
“I wanted to stay at Chelsea because we are always fighting and challenging for trophies.
“That desire and the will to want to win things have not gone.”
News of the deal being agreed emerged on Saturday, and confirmation that Cole has now signed up provides a boost on the eve of the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Swansea, where Chelsea must overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit.