Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has signed an extension to his contract with the West London side, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2015.

The influential midfielder has been out of the Chelsea side since December with a knee ligament injury but still featured in the Blues’ title triumph.

Essien enjoyed one of his best performances for the club last season at home against Wolves where only the crossbar denied him a hat-trick to cap a dream performance.

And the Ghana star is delighted that the club have demonstrated their desire to keep him at Stamford Bridge for another five seasons.

“I am looking forward to coming back and enjoying my football and winning more trophies with the club,” he said.

The midfielder has scored 22 times in his 185 appearances for the team and has established himself as a fans’ favourite in his five-year spell at Stamford Bridge

Essien will not feature for his country at this summer’s World Cup, and is instead focusing on being fully fit for the start of the club season in August.