Branislav Ivanovic’s future at Chelsea looked increasingly suspicious

Branislav Ivanovic’s future at Chelsea looked increasingly suspicious since the defender had only a few months left on his contract.

However, he has now signed a 12 month extension with the London outfit meaning that he will be at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2016-17 season. Ivanovic has been a permanent fixture in Chelsea’s first team over the last few years. Few would have imagined his astronomical rise since joining the club in a £ 9 million deal from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2008. Ivanovic has already won every major title with the West London outfit and is now looking forward to another period of glory.

His poor start to the season was a major factor in the club deciding to put talks about a new contract on hold. Ivanovic looked surprisingly slow and weak in defence. This coupled with rumours about interest from Paris St Germain led many to thinking that this would probably be his final season at the club. Ivanovic, though, has claimed that there is no other place where he would love to play football than at Stamford Bridge. The club’s policy of not offering players above 30 more than 12 months on a new contract looks set to remain for the time being.

“I am very happy to stay with Chelsea for another season. After eight years here this is my home and there is no other place I would rather play football. I have enjoyed so much success since moving to the club and I am determined to help the team achieve more in the last months of this season and next year as well,” said Ivanovic, whose performances have improved significantly when compared with the start of the campaign. The Serbian has made more than 340 appearances and scored some crucial goals in the Champions League.