The Ivory Coast international, who won ten trophies in his first spell at Chelsea from 2004 and 2012, was a free agent after leaving Galatsaray.

Reports had suggest the 36-year-old was weighing up his chances and opportunities, with manager Jose Mourinho saying the forward “belongs” at the club he left after scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2012.

“It was an easy decision – I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again,” he told the club’s website.

“Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.

“My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career.”

Jose Mourinho said: “He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe. I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.”

He scored a total of 157 goals in 342 appearances in his previous eight-year stay at Stamford Bridge and was voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player in a poll of fans in 2012.

His 34 goals in European competition remains a Chelsea record, as do his nine strikes in nine cup finals.

Having joined Chelsea from Olympique des Marseille for £24m in July 2004, and went on to win three Premier League titles, Four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League.

After quitting the ‘Blues’, he had a brief spell at Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, before joining Turkish League outfit Galatasaray in January 2013 and scored five goals in 13 league games as the Istanbul club won the title.

He netted 10 times in 32 matches as Gala reached the last 8 of the Champions League- where they were knocked out by Chelsea- and finished runners-up to Fenerbache in the league.

The former Caf Player of the Year has been named in Ivory Coast’s squad in all three of the nation’s World Cup appearances, taking his caps total to 104 with 64 goals scored.