Why Chalobah's new deal could prove vital to Chelsea's plans for next season

Stefan Bienkowski

• 4 Nov 2021 19:45 GMT
• 5 min read

Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has signed a new contract with the Premier League side that will likely keep him at the club until 2026.

The young defender was widely expected to leave the Stamford Bridge side in the summer, but Thomas Tuchel instead promoted Chalobah to his first team and there the young star has thrived with exposure to serious competition.

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However, rather than simply being an act of smart administrative work by sporting director Marina Granovskaia and her team, Chalobah committing his future to the club could become extremely useful for Chelsea next season.

They may need him to fill in next season

Perhaps the most obvious reason for Chalobah’s new contract extension is the fact that Chelsea’s back line could be about to undergo a serious change in the next eight months or so.

Among Tuchel’s most used defenders, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva all have contracts that are set to expire at the end of the season and it remains unclear as to whether all three will stay at the club next season.

Even if Chelsea are able to sign two of the three up to new deals, it will likely still mean a more pivotal role for Chalobah’s in the first team next season, as the young English defender is widely expected to step in and become a regular in Tuchel’s side.

In other words, Chalobah provides a fail-safe for Chelsea if they can’t sort out their defensive issues before next season.

He’ll be a valuable, sellable asset

Even if Chelsea are able to bolster their defence or hang on to their important stars, signing Chalobah up to a new deal will still likely lead to good business for the club.

The London side are famous for their clever squad planning and in particular the manner in which they sign back-up players up to long-term contracts and then loan them out to other clubs to pick up game time. If the player is then able to find a potential suitor, Chelsea can sell them off for a good price.

Indeed, signing player likes Chalobah up to long deals is the cornerstone of Chelsea’s business model and if the young defender never does nail down a starting role in Tuchel’s team, you can certainly bet on the club cashing in on the young defender down the line for a handsome fee.