Former Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba finalized a move to Major League Soccer's Montreal Impact Monday, signing a contract worth just over $3 million (2.7 million euros) a year.

"It's an honor to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact," team president Joey Saputo said.

"From the first conversation I had with him, I felt that he really wanted to play in Montreal. This is one of the biggest days in club history and his arrival to the club will be beneficial in every aspect."

Drogba won four league titles with Chelsea. He also scored the equalizing goal and winning penalty against Bayern Munich that gave the club its first Champions league title in 2012. The striker is also the Ivory Coast's leading goal scorer with 65 goals in 104 international appearances.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had backed the move, speaking glowingly of his former star last week.

"I think he's the perfect choice," Mourinho said. "If I owned a club - I don't and I never would - I would immediately think about a player like him, a man like him, to be the center of the club universe," Mourinho said.

Drogba, 37, will join an MLS roster that includes Englishmen Steven Gerrard (Los Angeles) and Frank Lampard (New York City), Spaniard David Villa (New York City) and Italian Andrea Pirlo (New York City).

bw/lw (Reuters, AP, AFP)