Ashley Cole Agrees New Chelsea Contract

Ashley Cole has ended speculation over his future by agreeing to sign a new contract with Chelsea.

The England defender is out of contract at the end of the season and was rumoured to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, but he is set to snub a move away by committing his future to the Blues.

A completion of his extension is expected in the coming days and will appease the club's fans, many of whom had become unhappy with the club's failure to tie the player down to a new deal.

The 32-year-old is coming to the latter stages of his career but is still regarded as one of the best left-backs on the planet.

He joined Chelsea from Arsenal, who he plays on Sunday, in a controversial transfer in 2006 and has 99 England caps.

When he arrived as Chelsea interim manager, Rafael Benitez said that he expected Cole and Frank Lampard - who is also out of contract - to leave the club at the end of the season.

Cole and Chelsea are believed to have been in talks over the last few weeks.