Hazard signs new Chelsea deal

Chelsea F.C. winger Eden Hazard has put pen to paper on a new five-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgium international, 24, joined Chelsea from Lille OSC for £32 million in the summer of 2012, and has gone one to tally 43 goals and 46 assists in 147 appearances for the Blues.

Hazard, a two-time PFA Team of the Year selection, has started every English Premier League match for Chelsea this season, and is absolutely delighted to commit his long-term future to the club.

“I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea,” Hazard said. “Since I came here in 2012 I have always felt good and the club has been very supportive to me.

“The manager has helped me improve a lot, the fans have been fantastic and I have an amazing understanding with my team-mates.

“I always try to give pleasure to the supporters with my style of play and it is nice to know they appreciate my work.

“I hope we can repay that support by winning lots of trophies, beginning with the Capital One Cup at Wembley, and after that, we can push hard towards the end of the season.”

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho added: “I am very happy that Eden has signed a new contract. It shows he believes in the club’s coaching staff and players to help him become the best player in the world.

“He is already a top player and his evolution has been fantastic. He is still very young and he can become the best.”

Hazard has tallied nine goals and five assists in 25 league appearances for the West Londoners in 2014/15.

Diarra will join West Ham in the summer

West Ham United will have to wait until the summer to sign former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.

Diarra, 29, had been training with the Hammers, but a FIFA regulation will prevent the player from joining the club until the end of the season.

“We had agreed a deal and unfortunately the FIFA regulation – that hasn’t been explained to me yet – there is a FIFA regulation at the moment that cannot be overcome so he will not be joining us until the end of the season,” West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told Sky Sports News.

West Ham (10-8-7), currently in eighth-place in the league table, will travel to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

West Brom (6/4); West Ham (2/1); Draw (12/5)