The centre-half agreed the deal this evening, on his 29th birthday, and it will come as welcome good news after being ruled out of tomorrow's FA Cup final at Wembley with a knee injury.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "We are delighted that Riccy has committed himself to us for the next five years.

"He has been a key player for us since he joined and has been in fantastic form this season. Without doubt he is one of the best central defenders in the world.

"The only shame is that he will miss tomorrow's game through injury and we are all sorry for that."

mfl

Carvalho followed manager Jose Mourinho to Chelsea in the summer of 2004 in a deal worth just under £20million, after helping Porto to the Champions League crown that May.

He helped the Blues to successive Barclays Premiership titles on his arrival and formed a commanding central defensive partnership with England captain John Terry.

Although this season has seen the Londoners relinquish their title, Mourinho has singled out his countryman for special praise after maintaining his form despite being forced to play alongside a string of different partners due to injuries at Stamford Bridge.

However, Carvalho will not have the chance to add to his Carling Cup winners medal at Wembley tomorrow due to medial ligament damage suffered against Bolton last month.