Chelsea confirm Frank Lampard as new coach

Frank Lampard has been confirmed as the replacement for Maurizio Sarri as the new coach for Chelsea after agreeing a three-year contract.

"I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea. Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared, however, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead. I cannot wait to get started," said Lampard on the Chelsea website.

The 41-year-old leaves Championship side Derby County, where he spent last year in charge to return to the south-London outfit where he spent 13 seasons, making a total of 648 appearances and scoring 211 goals.

During that period he helped Chelsea win three Premier League titles, the FA Cup on four occasions, the 2012 Champions League and the 2013 Europa League.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said "It gives us great pleasure to welcome Frank back to Chelsea as head coach. Frank possesses fantastic knowledge and understanding of the club and last season, he demonstrated he is one of the most talented young coaches in the game."

"After 13 years with us as a player, where he became a club legend and our record goal-scorer, we believe this is the perfect time for him to return and are delighted he has done so. We will do everything we can to ensure he has all the support required to be a huge success," she added.

Lampard has been confirmed as coach following several days of talks with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, which are thought to have centered on how the club will cope under the effects of a FIFA transfer ban.

The ban was imposed for irregularities regarding the Chelsea youth system and means the club will not be able to make any signings until the summer of 2020.

Chelsea have added Christian Pulisic to their squad this summer, because he was signed from Borussia Dortmund in January and remained on loan with the German side until the end of the season, while Mateo Kovacic's loan from Real Madrid has been made permanent, but the club has lost winger Eden Hazard who moved the other way to Madrid.

Meanwhile the club is expected to confirm in the near future that England internationals, Ruben Loftus Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi (both of whom are currently recovering from Achilles tendon injuries) have agreed new contracts.