Chelsea’s first move under the new ownership of Todd Boehly has been to extend the contract of young star Billy Gilmour, they have announced.
The young Scot impressed at Stamford Bridge in cameos during the 2020-21 season, and is a player that the club have high hopes for in the future.
But he endured a tough most recent campaign, having been sent out on loan to Norwich City in a bid to increase his gametime in the top flight.
And the 21 year old struggled to make a consistent impact on the side, making 24 appearances as the Canaries were relegated once more from the Premier League, with Gilmour grabbing just 1 assist in that time.
Despite this, the Blues have opted to exercise the option in his contract to extend his time at Stamford Bridge until 2024, with his previous deal officially running until 2023.
Chelsea Football Club has exercised an option to extend @billygilmourrr‘s contract until 2024! ✍️
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 13, 2022
It is unclear whether this move has been made solely to protect his value this summer so as not to lose him on the cheap, or whether it marks their continued faith in the youngster despite a poor campaign.
Chelsea on the recruitment drive
With the ownership issues now behind them, this summer promises to be a big one for Thomas Tuchel and co. following a disappointing season by their standards.
There will certainly be at least one defensive addition, with both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger having left the club as free agents, while rumours linking the Blues with Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer continue to swirl.
Beyond that, they are close to sealing a deal for young shot-stopper Slonina, and could also seek reinforcements in midfield.
