A London newspaper has retracted claims that Ghana international Michael Essien and a number of his Chelsea teammates splashed out 120,000 pounds on a birthday bash for Solomon Kalou.

The Evening Standard newspaper had reported that Essien and Kalou had paid extravagant amounts in a London night club to celebrate another year in the life of the Ivorian international.

But the newspaper on Friday back tracked on the claim with an apology.

The paper says Chelsea captain John Terry had not spent 70,000 pounds on drinks and tips as it had reported and said “none of the Chelsea players particularly Michael Essien and Kalou, paid extravagant amounts for any drinks.”

Instead the party had cost 6,000 pounds and the entire revenue for the night club was not more than 20,000 pounds.

While Essien has enjoyed his football in England since he moved from Lyon, the Ghanaian has grown increasingly worried at reports about his private life and has in the past been forced to resort to the courts in a bid to clear most false claims that he is worried could paint a negative picture of his personality.