Chelsea 'trigger contract extensions for £195m duo'

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over at Stamford Bridge in May 2022, they have taken the approach of signing young players for big money on long-term contracts.

That method was undertaken to help spread the cost of such deals for financial fair play purposes, Chelsea taking an alternative route to their rivals.

As a result, Premier League clubs voted in December for contracts to be limited to a maximum of five years, effectively responding directly to how Chelsea had conducted business.

However, with the ruling not being backdated, the current contracts that are in place at Chelsea will not be impacted.

Which players have had their contracts extended?

In documents recently released by the Football Association, as per The Mirror, the deals of Enzo Fernandez and Mykhaylo Mudryk have each been extended by a further year than had previously been reported.

The development came to light through the FA revealing payments that have been made to the player's representatives.

As a result, it is suggested that Fernandez is now on a contract at Chelsea until the end of the 2031-32 campaign, with Mudryk's terms running until 2031.

What are the long-term ramifications?

In the long term, Chelsea's owners will be seen to be further protecting their position in the market given the potential that both players possess.

However, Fernandez cost Chelsea a fee of £107m - a British record at the time - and the West Londoners are believed to have spent approximately £89m on Mudryk.

Although Chelsea moved with the theory that the pair may potentially be sold for a profit in the future, neither player have shown the quality required for that to become a reality.

Fernandez has seven goals and five assists from 60 appearances, while not always being effective alongside Moises Caicedo in central midfield.

Mudryk has just six strikes and four assists from 51 appearances, albeit with more of those outings coming from the substitutes' bench.

That effectively means that nothing will change in the short term for Chelsea. Realistically, no clubs can afford to sign either player, even if they were performing closer to the standard expected of them.