Chelsea FC Legend Didier Drogba Signs With Montreal Impact
Chelsea FC great Didier Drogba has officially confirmed the next step in his storied career with the announcement that he has signed for the Montreal Impact. Drogba will head to Major League Soccer having concluded his second spell with the Blues this summer.
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The Ivorian scored a remarkable 164 goals in 381 competive appearances for Chelsea over nine seasons. His stay in West London was shared between two spells, with the initial one lasting for eight of those campaigns.
Drogba quickly became one of Chelsea’s most feared components, netting over 30 competitive goals in two separate seasons. He was a huge part of the formation of the modern Chelsea, helping the club to four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and most importantly a Champions League.
Having left West London in the summer of 2012, Drogba toured the world for a couple of years before returning for a second spell last summer. Unfortunately, it was proven that at the age of 37 he no longer had the pace required in the Premier League and he amicably parted ways with the Blues after just the one season back.
Following this, speculation has been rife as to where he would travel next. There has been supposed interest from clubs around the world that even included the possibility of a nostalgic return to Marseille, the club that originally made him. However, his wage demands were always going to be an issue and such a move never really gathered much gravity.
Now on the back of offers from multiple MLS franchises, Drogba has chosen to join the Montreal Impact.
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Montreal played their first MLS season in 2012, but have had little success. Last season they finished bottom of the pile having won six out of 34 games. This season, however, they find themselves more in contention sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with games in hand over those above them. With Drogba, one can only assume that they’ll be headed northwards.
Either way, club president Joey Saputo is happy:
“This is one of the biggest days in club history and his arrival to the club will be beneficial in every aspect,” he proclaimed in a club statement.
What is perhaps more exciting for US/Canadian soccer fans, and the MLS in general, is that the Ivorian’s arrival sets up a few potential great showdowns due to the host of Premier League legends making their way over stateside. A fued could be renewed with Steven Gerrard, while an interesting battle with former teammate Frank Lampard could come about should the Englishman ever be fit again.
Whatever may happen, this is great news for North American football, and for the player himself, who should find the going a bit easier. Hopefully he’ll be able to provide the Montreal fans with more goals like this:
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