Chelsea have confirmed Olivier Giroud has signed a new 12-month extension keeping him at the club until the end of next season.
Giroud’s previous deal was due to expire this summer and it was not clear whether he would stay after dropping down the pecking order.
The France international dropped below Gonzalo Higuain and even Eden Hazard for places up front under Maurizio Sarri this season.
There were suggestions Giroud would head back to France this summer but Chelsea have now rewarded the veteran striker with a new one-year contract.
“I am very happy to sign a new contract,” he told the club’s official website. “I really wanted to stay at least one more year – I have felt part of the team, the family, since the beginning and hopefully there will be more trophies to come.”
Given the uncertainty regarding whether Chelsea will be able to sign players or not this summer, coupled with Higuain returning to Juventus, Sarri’s side had little choice but to renew Giroud’s contract.
With Eden Hazard also expected to join Real Madrid this summer, Giroud could remarkably start next season as Chelsea’s first choice striker.
Giroud made 27 league appearances this season but only seven of those were starts, returning four goals in that time.
The 32-year-old is, however, the joint top scorer in the Europa League this season with 10 goals in 12 league appearances.
