Chelsea's latest transfer decision is more surprising than you can imagine

Cameron Smith

15 Apr 2024 06:45 CDT
3 min read

Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Chelsea are expected to be busy in the transfer market yet again this summer, with Mauricio Pochettino recently admitting the Blues “need” to sign both young players and more experienced heads.

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Lewis Hall has already departed the club, with his loan move to Newcastle United made permanent, and it has now been reported that Chelsea have extended the contracts of both Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk in a bizarre transfer move.

Both players joined the club in January 2023, for €121 million and €70m respectively, and Chelsea tied them down to long contracts as part of their new strategy under Todd Boehly.

However, The Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella has now reported that Chelsea have exercised their option to extend the contracts of both Fernandez and Mudryk, despite the fact both had multiple years left on their existing deals.

Chelsea extend Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk’s contracts

As per Kinsella, “FA documents have revealed Fernandez has eight years left on his £180,000-a-week deal which runs until 2032, while Mudryk has seven years on his £97,000-a-week deal until 2031.”

As a result, Fernandez will be 32 years old when his contract at Chelsea expires, while Mudryk will be 31.

Although both players evidently have talent, neither have lived up to their eye-watering price tags just yet. Pochettino must take some of the blame regarding Fernandez’s form, given his current role at Chelsea doesn’t suit him, but the 2022 World Cup winner has been extremely disappointing this season.

Furthermore, Mudryk still looks incredibly raw and he has scored just six goals in 50 Chelsea appearances.

While the Blues are hoping to sign several top players this summer, extending the contracts of Fernandez and Mudryk by one year is a rather odd decision given their initial deals weren’t due to expire until 2031 and 2030 respectively and their performance level has been below par since moving to England.