Malouda seals new Chelsea deal after snubbing offers from Italy and Spain

23 June 2009 16:39
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has signed a new two-year extension to his current contract with the club.   The 29-year-old Frenchman, who had two years remaining on his existing deal, has ended speculation over his future at Stamford Bridge by signing a new deal that will now keep him at the club until 2013. Malouda, who enjoyed a fine end to the Barclays Premier campaign underinterim coach Guus Hiddink, was linked with a move to AC Milan. But a spokesman for Chelsea confirmed: 'The club and the player have agreed terms on a new four-year contract.'  Malouda had two years remaining on his existing deal and was expected to move on, especially when the London club were linked with a move for Russian Yuri Zhirkov.   But the France international is now staying at Stamford Bridge.   'I can reveal that I have signed a new two-year deal with Chelsea,' said Malouda. 'I am staying. From now on, I have four years left on my contract. I know that every time the transfer window opens there are a lot of rumours and I hope in this one people will know what has happened.' Malouda had struggled to settle into English football following his £13.5million transfer from Lyon in 2007. But he returned to top form under Hiddink and eventually started 31 games for the Blues last term - scoring seven goals including a crucial equaliser in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Source: Daily_Mail