There’s some good news at Chelsea as one of their players has reportedly signed a contract extension to stay at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea owners have usually tied down their individuals to long-term deals since arriving at the club, so it’s massively exciting that the likes of Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo are already on lengthy contracts.
The Blues have run into an obstacle in the last couple of months regarding the future of Josh Acheampong, though.
Acheampong has been in a contract stand-off with Chelsea recently, which has resulted in the 18-year-old defender being frozen out of both the academy and first-team games. Fortunately, he’s now back playing and he played 90 minutes in the Blues’ 3-1 away win over Astana last week in the Conference League.
Now, there’s even more good news about a contract breakthrough for the Blues academy graduate.
Josh-Kofi Acheampong of Chelsea runs with the ball during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Astana and Chelsea F...
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Josh Acheampong agrees new Chelsea contract
According to The Athletic, Chelsea have secured the long-term future of Acheampong as he’s agreed a new and improved deal.
It is understood that the teenage defender has penned a fresh five-year contract that runs until 2029.
The report explains that issues during negotiations impacted his game time in recent months, but everything is now resolved and he’s got a good chance of playing this Thursday’s European tie at home to Shamrock Rovers.
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Apparently, Chelsea internally view Acheampong’s new deal as a ‘statement of intent’ by co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields and academy director Glenn van der Kraan, along with co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
Now, Chelsea supporters will just have to wait and hear an official announcement from the club. Let’s see if there’s an update from head coach Enzo Maresca in Wednesday afternoon’s press conference.
Maresca previously called Chelsea youngster Acheampong “fantastic” after working with him in the summer. There’s now the chance for the English right-back to kick on after the contract saga and make inroads into the first-team squad on a permanent basis.
Josh Acheampong is needed in Chelsea squad
With Reece James’ injury problems still persisting in 2024, Chelsea are sometimes light in the full-back department.
Malo Gusto has stepped in superbly as the club’s first-choice right-back recently, but perhaps Acheampong is now ready to become his natural understudy.
It would be great to see the teenage defender become a mainstay in Chelsea’s senior group during the second half of the season. In fairness, he was an unused substitute at the weekend for the Premier League win over Brentford.
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