Germany captain Michael Ballack has signed up for an extra year at Chelsea, ensuring he will be playing in the English Premier League in the run-up to next year's FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa.

Ballack moved to London from Bayern Munich in 2006 and has won two FA Cups and a League Cup in his time in the British capital.

We had a fantastic end to the season, winning the FA Cup, and we are all looking forward to taking this success into the new season under Carlo Ancelotti, our new manager.
Germany captain Michael Ballack

"I am very happy to be staying at Chelsea for one more year as it was always my intention to play in London at least until the World Cup in 2010," the 32-year-old midfielder said. "We had a fantastic end to the season, winning the FA Cup, and we are all looking forward to taking this success into the new season under Carlo Ancelotti, our new manager."

A Chelsea statement added: "Michael has been a key member of our team for three years so we are naturally very happy that we have agreed the extension."