Didier Drogba carried off the pitch by team-mates after being substituted in final ever Chelsea game

VIDEO: Chelsea legend announced he will leave the club

(Getty Images)

Didier Drogba was carried off the Chelsea pitch by his team-mates after picking up an injury in his final match at Stamford Bridge.

Ahead of kick-off against Sunderland, the Chelsea legend, 37, announced that he would leave the club for the second time in search of more first-team football.

Drogba picked up an injury just half an hour into the game - to be replaced by Diego Costa - but his Chelsea team-mates rushed over to carry him off the pitch as Chelsea fans stood to give him a rousing reception.

The veteran has impressed as a third-string striker for Jose Mourinho's champions this season, scoring seven vital goals with Costa and Loic Remy injured at various points this season.

"I want to play for at least one more season and in order to play more football I feel I need to go to another club," he told Chelsea's website before the game.

DROGBA!!!! Being carried off the pitch on his last game ever for Chelsea!! WHAT A LEGEND!!!! WHAT A SEND OFF!! pic.twitter.com/bAKHrC5pOK

— Stacie Dawson (@stacie_dawson) May 24, 2015

Drogba finishes his two stints at Chelsea with 164 goals in 382 games. He has won 12 trophies, including four Premier League titles, for the club and was voted the club's greatest ever player in a fans' poll in 2012.