Former Ghana midfielder Michael Essien says doubts about clubs paying big money for African players were cleared following the performances of himself and Didier Drogba in the Premier League.

Essien moved from Olympique Lyon to join Chelsea in 2005, a year after Drogba had made the switch to the London side also from the Ligue 1.

Drogba stormed the Premier League in his debut season scoring 10 and providing five assists in 26 matches in the league under Jose Mourinho.

According to Essien, that sterling performance, coupled with subsequent ones from the Ivorian and himself, paved the way for clubs to trust spending on players from Africa.

"It is always a big question if there is a big transfer over an African player. Didier [Drogba] was there, he showed it a year before I came [to Chelsea] and I followed it up," the Ghanaian told Sky Sports.

"I think he gave some trust to the rest of the clubs that they can spend the money and trust the process."

Between 2004 and 2014, both Essien and Drogba won four Premier League titles with the West London side while also claiming four FA Cup titles among a host of other major honours.