The Montreal Impact have officially acquired Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.

The Impact confirmed the acquisition via Twitter Monday.

He appeared in 26 Barclays Premier League games with Chelsea in 2014-15, scoring four goals. He made 12 additional appearances between the FA and League Cups as well as the UEFA Champions League, scoring three additional goals.

"It's an honour to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact," Impact president Joey Saputo said Monday in a statement. "From the first conversation I had with him, I felt that he really wanted to play in Montreal. This is one of the biggest days in club history and his arrival to the club will be beneficial in every aspect." 

Drogba broke into European soccer with Le Mans in 1998-99 and became a dominant striker between 2002 and 2004 with Guingamp and later Marseille. It was at Marseille that he caught the eye of Chelsea and earned a transfer to England.

He would play a large role in the London-based club's rise to dominance in England's top flight. Over eight seasons with the blues, Drogba scored 157 goals across all competitions, appearing in 341 matches. His achievements over that time included three Premier League titles, two League Cups and four FA Cups. He won two Premier League Golden Boots and countless awards for his international play with the Ivory Coast.

What was arguably his greatest moment with the club proved to be his last before leaving. He scored the equalizer in the 2012 Champions League Final against Bayern Munich to send the match to extra time and converted the penalty that sealed the club's first ever UEFA Champions League title.

He left for China's Shenhua Shanghai the following season, where he made 11 appearances. He returned to Europe in 2012-13, joining Turkey's Galatasaray.

Chelsea brought the popular Ivorian back for this past Premier League season. 

Impact technical director Adam Braz believes Drogba still has plenty to offer the Impact, despite - or perhaps because of - his lengthy career in Europe.

"We are very excited and thrilled to add to our roster a player with an exceptional career," Braz said in a statement. "He's demonstrated his qualities as a striker at the highest level in Europe. His instinct in front of the goal, his experience and his leadership are all attributes that will help the team on the field."

Drogba has made 42 career international appearances for the Ivory Coast, scoring 23 goals. He appeared for his nation at three FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and five African Cup of Nations.