Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko has decided to leave his club side AC Milan.

The striker was due to announce his decision yesterday, but delayed it until he had spoken properly to the AC Milan president Adriano Galliani.

AC Milan had offered Shevchenko a new two-year extension to his contract in an effort to put Premiership champions Chelsea off signing him but that wasn't enough to keep him at the Serie A giants.

The Ukraine star is now expected to seal his transfer to Premiership champions Chelsea FC.

AC Milan have released the following statement on their official website:

"Andriy Shevchenko has said good-bye to Milan after seven seasons as a Rossoneri. After a long meeting, Andriy Shevchenko and Adriano Galliani held a press conference in the trophy room at the club's Via Turati headquarters.

Andriy had this to say: 'I’m leaving for family reasons, I want to thank the club for what they have done for me, there is no problem in terms of relationship and this isn’t about money.'

Adriano Galliani said: 'It was a victory for the English language over the Italian one. I did all that I could do to convince him to stay. This is the most difficult separation since I have been at Milan. We will now start negotiations with Chelsea, but they won’t be easy.'

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