Last updated on .From the section Football

Defending champions Chelsea have been struggling in the Premier League this season

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has signed a new four-year contract with the Stamford Bridge club.

The 29-year-old England international has made 177 Blues appearances since arriving from Bolton for about £7m in January 2012.

His previous deal was due to expire at the end of next season.

"I have achieved a lot here and I hope I can keep on learning, helping the team and lifting trophies over the next four years," the centre-back said.

"I'm really pleased to commit my future to Chelsea and it's great the club has put their faith in me."

This season Cahill has played in 10 Premier League matches for the defending champions, who are 14th in the table after taking 15 points from their first 14 games.

He has won the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League, the Champions League and the Europa League in his time with the Blues.

Cahill was named in the Professional Footballers' Association's Premier League team of the year for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, and has 40 England caps to his name.