England midfielder Frank Lampard has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, the English premier league club said on their website on Saturday.

The 26-year-old agreed the deal in Seattle where Chelsea are on a pre-season tour.

"I am really pleased to have agreed the new deal," Lampard said. "I was always sure I wanted to stay and I was sure the club wanted me to stay.

"The talks have always been amicable and now it is settled we can all look forward to what should be a great season."

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said he was pleased to have tied one of the team's top players to Stamford Bridge.

"Frank is clearly a key part of Chelsea's future," he said. "His performances since he joined, especially last season and during Euro 2004, prove this.

"We always wanted him to sign and the only reason it took a while was because of the busy summer football-wise and the holidays. Now it is all signed, we can look forward to five more great years with him."

Lampard, who has played 22 internationals, joined Chelsea from West Ham United three years ago for 11 million pounds ($20.27 million).