Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has signed a new five-year contract worth £90,000 a week. Standard Sport revealed in May Chelsea were desperate to tie him to a long-term deal and that talks would take place after Euro 2008.

Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is a huge fan of the Czech No1 and rates him as the best goalkeeper in the world.

The deal was finalised late last week but officially announced as the team touched down today in Guangzhou, China, for their pre-season tour of Asia.

Cech said: "I am very happy to have renewed my contract. Chelsea has grown in my heart, not just because of my team-mates and all the people that work for the club but also because of their fantastic fans.

"I gave my first interview when I arrived at Chelsea in 2004 and I had said it had been my dream to play for one of the best clubs in the world and in the best league in the world - this came true and I am very pleased my dream will last. I cannot wait for the new season to start. I am confident it will be a very successful season for us."

The news was welcomed by Scolari and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon. Scolari said: "I am delighted Petr has signed a new contract - he is the best goalkeeper in the world."

Kenyon added: 'I think everybody agrees with Felipe's assessment of Petr so naturally we are very happy he has committed his long-term future to us.

"He has been a key player in the club's success in the last four years. He has also shown himself throughout this time to be a top professional and is a great ambassador for the club."

Cech has played 166 games for Chelsea in all competitions and kept 90 clean sheets. His long-term contract follows on from the announcement of Wayne Bridge's new contract last week. Not joining Cech on the tour to China is unsettled striker Didier Drogba, who has officially been left behind for treatment on a new injury.

There has been fresh speculation linking him with a move to either Inter Milan or Barcelona but Scolari expects the Ivory Coast international to start the season at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "Didier's future? It is at Chelsea? He has a contract with us and I think he is happy at Chelsea."

Tal Ben Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Claude Makelele, who is set to join Paris St-Germain, have also been left out of the travelling squad.

Meanwhile, winger Florent Malouda is another first-team player who could be on the way out of Stamford Bridge after attracting the interest of Roma.

Malouda failed to impress following his £13.5m move from Lyon last summer and will be allowed to go if a club meets Chelsea's asking price.

German club Stuttgart have also revealed they are in negotiations with Chelsea over signing defender Khalid Boulahrouz, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla.