Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka to join Shanghai Shenhua in January

Nicolas Anelka will join Shanghai Shenhua in January after Chelsea agreed to sell the French striker to the Chinese side.

Anelka, who has not been training with the Chelsea first team since handing in a transfer request, posed with a Shanghai Shenhua shirt after the Blues confirmed the transfer on Monday.

A Chelsea statement read: “Chelsea Football Club and Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Nicolas Anelka in the January transfer window.”

It is understood that Anelka, 32, has agreed a two-year contract and will earn a reported £175,000 a week.

The Chinese club are also said to be keen to prise Didier Drogba, who is currently in talks over a possible Chelsea contract extension, away from Stamford Bridge

“[Didier] Drogba, is a very excellent player,” club director Zhou Jun told Reuters. “From the perspective of Chinese football, if these big-name players, these excellent players, are willing to come to China, we are willing to have warm negotiations and communications with them

“A lot of clubs are chasing Drogba. From our perspective, we also have to see what Drogba wants. So from our club’s perspective, we have this to say – If he is willing to come, we will definitely welcome him.”

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Read more on: Chelsea, didier drogba, Football transfers, nicolas anelka, Premier League, Shanghai Shenhua.