Drogba joins Chinese club

The announcement ends months of speculation about the move, in which the striker will become China's best paid player with weekly pay of 200,000 pounds ($314,000), according to reports, and join ex-Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka.

Didier Drogba

u00a0"Today I can inform you that I have signed with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua FC for a two-and-a-half year deal (until the end of 2014)," Drogba, 34, said on his website. "I will fly out to join up with the squad in July."

Shanghai Shenhua posted a picture of Drogba wearing the team's blue shirt - similar to Chelsea's - on its website, and confirmed the deal in a brief statement.