Ricardo Carvalho has celebrated both his 29th birthday today and his outstanding season by signing a new contract.

 

The good news on the eve of the FA Cup Final came when the Portuguese international central defender finalised a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening.

 

The contract commits Carvalho to Chelsea until the end of the 2011/12 season.

 

By then he will have spent eight years at Chelsea. He was signed by José Mourinho in the summer of 2004 from FC Porto and has been an integral part of the team's trophy success in the last three seasons.

 

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'We are delighted that Riccy has committed himself to us for the next five years.

 

'He has been a key player for us since he joined and has been in fantastic form this season. Without doubt he is one of the best central defenders in the world.

 

'The only shame is that he will miss tomorrow's game through injury and we are all sorry for that.'

 

Despite damaging his knee against Bolton three weeks ago and having not played since, Carvalho is Chelsea most used defender this season with 51 starts. He was one of the three nominated for the club's Player of the Year.

 

In total he has made 120 starts for Chelsea and five sub appearances, scoring eight times.