Chelsea have announced that they've taken up the one-year option in Olivier Giroud's contract which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until the end of 2021/22 season.
The Frenchman's previous deal was set to expire at the end of this month and, after helping the Blues win the Champions League, Giroud was expected to leave west London on a free transfer.
AC Milan have been heavily linked with a move for Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic even endorsed an approach for the 34-year-old.
He said: "The more high-level players we can get, the better. Giroud has great experience and we don't have many players who have won trophies. If he comes he is welcome."
However, Chelsea have today confirmed that in April they took the decision to extend Giroud's contract for a further 12 months.
"Olivier has been such a crucial part of so many big moments for this club, from his contribution to our FA Cup victory in 2018, to scoring 11 goals on the way to winning the Europa League in 2019," Blues director Marina Granovskaia told the club's website.
"He has continued to score significant goals, and we will never forget his effort against Atletico Madrid on the way to winning the Champions League this season.
"With so much to still to play for, there was only one decision we could make when we exercised the option to extend his contract back in April."
Giroud joined Chelsea in January 2018 and has gone on to win the Champions League, Europa League and the FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The France international made 31 appearances in all competitions for the Blues during the 2020/21 campaign and ended with 11 goals, six of which came in the Champions League.
He did, though, only start 12 times in all competitions despite receiving praise from both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel for his off-field attitude.
"He trains very well, he is a leader in the group, a big personality," Tuchel said in February. "Even when he has not started he deserves to start.
"He is as fit as ever and you can rely on his physical impact in the game. It’s hard to play against him. He is used to playing a high rhythm, used to playing in the Premier League, and this helps him stay in this high level.
"He is very self-aware. He is in a fantastic mood every day, pushing everybody around him to win every little game we do in training, and being very positive with everybody around him. That didn’t change when he didn’t start for us or come off the bench.
"This is what in the end makes the difference for good players and big personalities, because for sure Oli is a big personality."
