Frank Lampard admitted he considered leaving Chelsea in the summer transfer window, but his first option was to always remain at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea confirmed Thursday an agreement had been reached between the club and Lampard over a one-year deal, which keeps the midfielder in London until 2014.
"I think everybody knows how much I wanted to stay here," he said. "I'm just very pleased now to look to the future."
However, before the deal was announced, Lampard was thought to be set for a move away from Chelsea, with the likes of L.A. Galaxy and even Manchester United reportedly interested.
Lampard, who will turn 35 next month, did not go into naming the clubs that he considered moving to, but admitted there were serious considerations over leaving Chelsea in the summer.
"From January onwards I was allowed to look at my other options, and it wasn't cut and dried," Lampard told Sky Sports News. "I don't want to get into all the behind-the-scenes stuff but I was in a position where I was looking at other options and that could have become a reality.
"But at the same time I wanted to get my head down and try to show here that I could play and contribute and that I was fit enough.
"In January I had been out of the team for two months with an injury, wasn't a regular, so I wanted to have a chance to do that. The talks at the club have been pretty much ongoing for a while now but it wasn't something we wanted to throw out there while important games were going on.
"As you get older you start to think about the time to walk away or when you might be told to walk away actually. But I love it here. I've got a great association with the club and with the fans. I live locally. It is my life here and that's what I didn't want to change.
"I want that to continue for as long as possible. I signed for a year extension; I'd love to be part of the next few years of Chelsea developing. The fresh young players that we've seen come in this year are only going to get better and integrate better into the team.
"If I can help that happen on the pitch and off the pitch I'd be really happy."
Lampard was at his peak during the Jose Mourinho years, and the Chelsea veteran would love for the Portuguese to return to Stamford Bridge.
"Certain managers do float my boat and the idea of them coming is obviously great but we don't know yet," he said.
"With great football people there's a determination and drive in them that stands out above the rest and I know that Jose Mourinho has got that as a manager.
"He went from Chelsea to Inter Milan and created something amazing there, and to Real Madrid and won the league against the greatest team of our generation (Barcelona).
"For him to come back here, or wherever his next step would be, he would prepare and he would have so much desire to make it work, and I think all those things are the over-riding factors, and I think he'll be a great success."
