The Montreal Impact have acquired the MLS rights to the striker Didier Drogba from the Chicago Fire, opening the door for the former Chelsea star to play for the Montreal club, reports say.

According to ESPN, the 37-year-old striker reportedly signed an 18-month contract that will pay him more than $3 million a year.  The Impact were required to send $100,000 of allocation money to the Chicago Fire for the rights to Drogba. 

The former Chelsea striker is arguably the biggest acquisition in the history of the Impact.

Rumours surrounding Drogba’s arrival to the MLS have been circulating for over a week. Montreal was rumoured to be the favoured destination for the Ivorian player, as it’s the only francophone city in the MLS circuit.

With files from La Presse Canadienne