ROME (AFP) - AC Milan's central defender Alessandro Nesta has signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him at the Serie A club until 2011, the Champions League finalists said on Friday.

The 30-year-old Italy international's original deal was due to expire in 2008.

Nesta, whose season has been disrupted by a recurrent groin strain and shoulder surgery, will line up in AC Milan's defence in the Champions League final against Liverpool next Wednesday in Athens.

Nesta suffered a groin strain in the third group stage match at last year's World Cup and played no further part in Italy's eventual triumph.