Thiago Silva signs Chelsea extension

The
Blues
targeted
youth
in
the
January
transfer
window,
splashing
out
huge
sums
of
cash
on
Enzo
Fernandez,
Mykhaylo
Mudryk
and
Benoit
Badiashile
as
part
of
a
spending
spree.

Of
the
seven
permanent
first-team
additions
to
arrive
at
Stamford
Bridge
last
month,
only
Mudryk
is
aged
over
21.
Joao
Felix,
at
23,
is
the
oldest
player
to
have
come
in
during
Chelsea’s
splurge,
though
he
signed
on
a
loan
deal
from
Atletico
Madrid.

Experience,
then,
will
be
crucial
for
Graham
Potter,
and
Chelsea
on
Friday
confirmed
they
had
finalised
an
agreement
with
38-year-old
Silva.

The
former
Milan
and
Paris
Saint-Germain
defender
had
been
set
to
become
a
free
agent
at
the
end
of
the
campaign,
but
will
now
stay
on
for
another
year.

“I
am
honestly
so
happy
to
continue
my
career
with
the
Blues,”
Silva
told
Chelsea’s
official
website.

“When
I
signed
my
first
contract
here,
it
was
to
just
do
one
year.
Now
it
is
already
the
fourth!

“I
could
not
have
imagined
that,
but
really
it
is
a
very
special
moment
for
me
to
sign
and
stay
at
Chelsea.”

pic.twitter.com/lxZ5uIOeVd

—
Chelsea
FC
(@ChelseaFC)

February
10,
2023

Chelsea
chairman
Todd
Boehly
and
co-controlling
owner
Behdad
Eghbali
added:
“We’re
delighted
that
Thiago
has
decided
to
continue
with
Chelsea.

“He’s
a
world-class
talent,
as
he’s
proven
over
many
years
for
club
and
country,
and
his
experience,
quality
and
leadership
skills
are
vital
to
our
vision
going
forward.

“We’re
thrilled
he
has
extended
his
contract
with
us,
and
we
look
forward
to
more
success
with
him
ahead.”

Silva,
who
has
played
74
Premier
League
games
since
joining
Chelsea
in
2020,
has
won
the
Champions
League,
Super
Cup
and
Club
World
Cup
during
his
time
in
west
London.

The
Blues
are
enduring
a
disappointing
campaign
and
need
a
turnaround
in
fortunes
if
they
are
to
secure
European
football.

Potter’s
team
have
won
just
two
of
their
last
12
league
games
and
sit
ninth,
10
points
adrift
of
the
Champions
League
places,
ahead
of
a
trip
to
West
Ham
on
Saturday.