LONDON - Chelsea says Michael Essien has left the club to join AC Milan, ending the Ghana midfielders 8 1/2-year stint at Stamford Bridge. The Premier League team made the announcement on Monday without disclosing any financial or contract details. At one time one of the worlds top midfielders, the 31-year-old Essien has lost his first-team place in recent years and spent last season on loan at Real Madrid. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says "we would have been happy had he stayed because he is fantastic player for the team, but hes given everything for the club and a great chance arrived for his future." Essien made 256 appearances for Chelsea after joining from Lyon in 2005. Brian Burns Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Sam Mills Panthers Jersey . After losing Brett Cecil to groin tightness on Friday, the Blue Jays watched as R. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panther...-blue-jersey/.5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2. Jordan Scarlett Womens Jersey . At times during a solid but not spectacular season, they looked all three. Still the defending AFC champions persevered, riding their top-ranked defence and key contributions from younger players to a 12-4 record and their eighth playoff appearance since 2000, remarkable consistency in a league where change is the only constant. Will Grier Youth Jersey .Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday it is inevitable that the league will one day take after European sports and have sponsor names on team jerseys. DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Semyon Varlamov to a five-year extension that goes through the 2018-19 season, worth $29.5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2.43 goals-against average. Hes second in the league in saves (1,199) this season and his 26 wins already match a career high. Joe p;Sakic, the teams executive vice-president of hockey operations, says that Varlamov is "entering the prime years of his career and he wants to be part of this franchise moving forward.dddddddddddd We are very excited to have come to terms with him." Varlamov was a first-round pick by Washington before being acquired by Colorado on July 1, 2011. He will represent Russia at the Sochi Olympics next month. ' ' '