Report: Several Chelsea players regret signing long-term deals at Stamford Bridge

Several Chelsea players regret signing a long-term contract as they want to leave the club

Many Chelsea players have apparently regretted accepting long-term contracts since they want to leave the team after this season.

According to Athletic, (h/t Daily Mail), many of the club’s players are considering leaving the club, but their long-term contracts make it difficult for them to do so. Chelsea’s January recruitment has led to a bloated roster of more than 30 players.

Many new signings under Todd Boehly have committed to long-term projects after hearing during contract negotiations that they would be a part of exciting new Chelsea projects.

Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Carney Chukwuemeka were among the players Chelsea signed in January.

They have all signed long-term contracts: Chukwuemeka’s expires in 2028, Madueke and Badiashile’s in 2030, Mudryk and Fernandez’s in 2031, and Fofana’s in 2029.

However, when signing a contract with Boehly, there was a clause that stated that player contracts had bonus structures linked to Champions League eligibility, which would cause their salaries to vary according to whether they were participating in the tournament. And those players will now see a reduction in their salary of up to 30%.

We need to be more cautious when awarding contracts to players. It’s clear that the club is in flux, and players’ hopes are dwindling as they worry that a long-term commitment could put their careers at risk.

And our chances of making the Champions League the following season have been dashed, which will have a significant financial impact on the club. But then again, if a player isn’t here for the long term, don’t see themselves as a part of the project and want out, then we have to be ruthless there.

More Chelsea News:

• Chelsea consider shock move for former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane
• Chelsea manager Frank Lampard blasted for N’Golo Kante experiment by Darren Bent
• Frank Lampard confirms Chelsea setback with Reece James and Mason Mount out

Hopefully, we can cut our losses on them and preferably make a profit. But the fact of the matter is, no matter what happens with their futures, the club have to be careful with this approach. It is all well and good to offer long-term deals for amortising their transfer fees.

But in such situations where the club struggle financially, on the pitch, or if the player have doubts about their future, then it could come back to bite us. Similarly, any new manager that comes in would effectively be stuck with several players on long-term deals even if he/she doesn’t want them at the club.