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Chelsea star Yahya Idrissi has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 2028. The midfielder is a part of the club’s long-term plan.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Yahya Idrissi, one of the brightest young talents from the Cobham academy, has extended his stay at Chelsea by signing a new long-term contract. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder arrived from West Ham United at the Under-12 level and has developed rapidly ever since. Idrissi scored 19 goals and registered 14 assists in his Under-16 season. He has represented Morocco at Under-17 and Under-18 levels and made several appearances for Chelsea’s Under-18s, scoring most recently against West Bromwich Albion. The club sees him as a future star and wants to slowly and steadily integrate him into senior football in the coming years.
WHAT DID THEY SAY?
Reflecting on his new deal, Idrissi said: “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract with Chelsea. I have been here for a long time and the opportunity to continue my journey was something I didn’t think twice about. I would like to thank my team-mates, staff, family and friends for their support so far. This is only the beginning and I’m excited for what’s to come. This season’s been good so far; my main focus is to keep working hard and finish the season off strong with my team.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Chelsea’s commitment to their youth system remains a hallmark of their strategy. The likes of Reece James, Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher have enjoyed tremendous success in the senior team and are all academy graduates. Having secured the future of Idrissi, it is safe to say that Chelsea have strong belief in his potential amid interest from rivals like Newcastle United and Manchester United. With Chelsea urging to secure Champions League qualification this season, nurturing alley talents like Idrissi is a significant part of their long-term vision. The Blues’ academy has been a reliable source of high-quality players, and the expectation is that Idrissi will now follow the path of previous graduates into the senior team fold.
WHAT NEXT?
With his future secured, Idrissi is expected to focus on further developing his game and moving closer to the senior team. Chelsea continue to believe that he will make “significant strides towards senior football next season. He is expected to continue appearing for Chelsea’s Under-21s for the remainder of the season though, with sporadic appearances in cup competitions. Chelsea’s senior team faces a key test against Legia Warsaw in the Champions League midweek, with Man City the next Premier League assignment coming up. Idrissi will continue to develop his game in the coming months though and certainly appears enroute to a long Chelsea career.
