© EuroFootball.com
Ghana national team star Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with the last two years' English champions, Chelsea from London.
The 24-year-old midfielder moved to Chelsea in August 2005 for 36 million euros (about 125 million litas) from French champions Lyon and then signed a five-year contract.
M. Essien, who scored an own goal in Sunday's FA Cup match against Tottenham, is highly valued by Chelsea's head coach Jose Mourinho and has played in all 46 matches in all competitions this season.
The newly signed contract will be valid until the summer of 2012.
