Chelsea has announced that striker Joao Pedro has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2034.
After joining Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, Pedro quickly made his mark, scoring three goals to help secure a victory in the Club World Cup.
The 24-year-old finished last season with an impressive tally of 23 goals and nine assists, earning him the title of Chelsea’s Player of the Season.
Pedro has continued his stellar form into pre-season, finding the back of the net seven times in just five matches.
“I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea,” said Pedro. “Playing for a big club has always been my dream, and committing long-term to Chelsea means a lot to me. The club has a strong history of success and ambitious goals for the future.”
“I have developed great relationships here at the club, and I felt at home in London from the moment I arrived. Everyone is excited for the upcoming season, and we believe we can achieve great things together. We have a talented team and a coach who has experience winning.”
Manager Xabi Alonso praised Pedro’s ‘personality’ and noted his strong desire to have an exceptional season.
However, there are some concerns surrounding Pedro’s decision to take on the number nine shirt for this campaign, given that it hasn’t yielded successful results for previous high-profile forwards like Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain, and Romelu Lukaku.
Beyond Pedro, the Blues’ success this season will hinge on the performances of players like Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Estevao, Reece James, and Morgan Rogers being at their best.
Pedro is anticipated to lead the attack as Chelsea kicks off their Premier League campaign against Fulham on Monday.