Chelsea youngster signs new contract

Earlier this month, the Blues announced that they had tied down Alfie Gilchrist to a longer-term deal at Stamford Bridge, a reward for his recent progression into the senior ranks.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was revealed that Charlie Webster is the latest youngster to commit his immediate future to the Premier League outfit.

The circumstances are different in comparison to Gilchrist with Webster having been due to be out of contract at the end of the season.

Webster has agreed to pen a one-year extension to his contract, with both the player and club protecting their respective positions.

How has Webster fared this season?

Unlike many of the players around his age, Webster was allowed to move out on loan to a foreign club at the start of the season, rather than remaining domestically.

Dutch side Heerenveen were identified as the ideal club to provide the 20-year-old with the experience that he required after impressing for Chelsea Under-21s.

However, the campaign has not progressed how the West Londoners or Webster would have hoped, despite initially making a positive start to 2023-24.

On his first start for the Eredivisie side against Go Ahead Eagles, after previously making his debut from the substitutes' bench, Webster was sent off after 58 minutes.

Since then, he has only made a further eight outings - all as a substitute - with just 137 minutes being accumulated across 10 appearances in the Dutch top flight.

Before Christmas, Webster also played three times for Heerenveen's Under-21 side, playing the full match on each occasion.

Can Webster break into Chelsea senior setup?

Webster has always been highly rated by Chelsea, establishing himself as a regular in all the youth team setups, while he is also a three-cap England Under-20 international.

Nevertheless, unless he can stand out in pre-season ahead of 2024-25, the feeling will be that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge.

At the very least, Chelsea will send Webster back on loan, presumably to an EFL club, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that they cash in on Webster for a cut-price fee and a sell-on clause.