With Didier Drogba now 34-years-old, his next move was always going to be a special one. According to reports in China it is going to be an exceptionally lucrative one as well, with the former Blues star set to join Shanghai Shenhua for a reported £200,000 a week. That package would make Drogba the highest paid player in Chinese football.

After playing a significant part in Chelsea’s FA Cup and Champions League success last term, Drogba promptly made the decision to exit the Blues once his contract expired. It was understood that he was looking for a longer contract than the one-year deal that was on the table, following years of loyal service that had resulted in countless trophies and goals. However, despite his exit, Blues supporters hold him in the highest regard possible and will certainly not begrudge him this move to China.

Drogba has been telling his fans for the past week that information on his future will be released in due course. However, he has been extremely coy on the situation, merely stating that “the next step is interesting”.

Should the Ivory Coast international complete the switch, he will at least have a familiar face at his new club. Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka also plays for Shanghai Shenhua and is coincidently the current highest earner in China, with his wage supposedly in the €200,000 per week bracket.

Even though Shenhua have invested heavily in their squad and management team over the past year, it would be fair to say they are underachieving. At the time of writing, the club are positioned in 12th, which is a far cry away from the ambitions set by wealthy owner Zhu Jun. Of course, Drogba knows all apart playing for rich tycoons although it remains to be seen whether he can taste even a fraction of the success he experienced at Stamford Bridge.