Chelsea’s extension of Chalobah is a much bigger deal than it seems

Winning the UEFA Champions League has its fair share of advantages. The tournament triumph ensures the winner’s a place in next year’s competition and brings with it a massive payday. Further, clubs secure their place in both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. These are just the perks that the club receives though. In addition to the sense of accomplishment that comes with winning the most prestigious competition in club football, the players are also rewarded in their own unique ways. For players like Cesar Azpilicueta, conquering the Champions League cements his legacy as one of Chelsea’s greatest ever captains. There are others who receive more tangible benefits, such as increased wages by way of contract extensions after a player displays his importance to the club.

Contract extensions have been the talk of the summer surrounding the Blues as there are a host of players who need to renew soon. Ironically enough, the first contract that Chelsea extended was none other than Trevoh Chalobah, one of the few players in Thomas Tuchel’s team who was not involved last season. Chalobah has been important to this side after proving his worth to Tuchel during the Blues’ preseason tour. While his extension is notable, not a lot of supporters are discussing the true significance behind the youngster putting pen to paper on a new contract.

As mentioned above, Chelsea has a lot of work to do on the renewal front. Chalobah may have been the least important of the bunch but his extension is still significant. The Blues now have the 22-year-old locked down until the end of the 2026 season. Simply put, this gives Chelsea some assurances at the back. Chalobah is one of the six players used in rotation for the three spots in Tuchel’s back three. He now becomes the second defender to be locked up long-term, along with Malang Sarr, who is the least utilized of the bunch. The other four are on expiring deals.

Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to sign an extension in the coming months that will keep him with the club for the foreseeable future. Andreas Christensen is also likely to stay, although talks with the Dane’s camp have hit a bump in the road as things stand. The two biggest question marks are Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva. There has been radio silence as far as Silva’s future is concerned, but one can imagine that if the Brazilian wants to stick around for another year in this new reduced role, the club will have no problem with that. His presence allows Levi Colwill to continue to develop for another year. Rudiger is the biggest doubt due to high wage demands. Further, there are numerous European clubs circling the German like vultures, waiting to sign him.

Regardless of what happens with the veteran centerbacks, Marina Granovskaia and Tuchel can now go to sleep at night and not worry about the future of the Blues’ back line. Chalobah and Sarr may be a relatively inexperienced foundation to build upon, but it’s a solid starting point nonetheless. Another notable fact is that neither player cost the club any money. This means Chelsea will have more cash to splash in the event that one of the aforementioned defenders fails to re-sign after this year.

Furthermore, Chalobah’s extension is significant in the sense the club is showing youngsters there is still a path into the first team. There was a lot of talk about the Conor Gallagher’s and Marc Guehi’s of the world this summer as the academy duo looked to impress Tuchel and earn their spot. Few were even giving Chalobah a shot. However, the former Lorient loanee put his head down, did everything the gaffer asked of him and earned the right to play in Chelsea’s first team. This is an encouraging sign for all of the Blues’ youth prospects, who considered following players like Tino Livramento out the door when it came time for them to make the jump to senior football.

Chalobah’s extension may not have been the one Chelsea fans have been waiting on. Regardless, it’s a step in the right direction for a team that’s looking to have sustained, major success for the first time since Jose Mourinho’s first stint in charge in west London. Tuchel is building something special—especially at the back—and he now has a sturdier foundation to build on for the future.

What did you make of Chalobah’s extension? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!