Chelsea's Joao Pedro Secured as New No 9 for the Decade

Chelsea are moving fast to tie down Joao Pedro on a long-term contract that could keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2034, underlining his rapid rise to centrepiece of the club’s attack.

Club sources expect the new deal to be completed before the Premier League season kicks off. Those close to the 24-year-old believe it is effectively done already: an agreement to 2032, with Chelsea holding an option to extend for a further two years.

Either way, the message is clear. Chelsea see Joao Pedro as the striker they can build around.

Signed from Brighton last summer for an initial £55m, plus £5m in add-ons, the Brazil international has been a standout success inside 12 months. Internally, the verdict is emphatic. They paid big money and got the centre-forward they had been searching for.

The numbers back it up. Last season Joao Pedro became the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa to hit 20 goals in a single campaign without the help of penalties. He also delivered on the biggest stage, scoring three times during Chelsea’s Club World Cup-winning run last summer.

The form has not dipped. Across pre-season he has struck eight goals in seven games, walking into the new campaign as the undisputed first-choice No 9.

That status is now reflected on his back. Chelsea have handed him the club’s iconic number nine shirt, with Liam Delap giving it up and pushed towards the exit. Delap is available for around £50m, with Nottingham Forest and Leeds United both showing interest in a permanent move.

Joao Pedro is expected to lead the line when Chelsea open their Premier League season away at Fulham on Monday. New arrivals Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha are set to provide depth and competition, but the hierarchy of the forward line is already clear.

Chelsea spent years searching for a reliable, ruthless striker. Now they are racing to make sure the one they finally found is going nowhere.