Chelsea striker Joao Pedro is set to sign a new contract that will extend his stay at Stamford Bridge, with the deal set to run to 2032 plus the option of two further years. The move is designed both to protect the club's investment amid reported interest from Barcelona and to reward the Brazilian's strong form since joining from Brighton last summer, fitting Chelsea's practice of moving well-performing players into higher wage bands, as they previously did with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

The 24-year-old's original deal was announced as running to 2033, though it actually ran to 2032 with a one-year club option, meaning the new contract will likely be presented as running to 2034 despite the underlying terms extending to 2032 with a two-year option. Joao Pedro scored 20 goals without penalties last season, the first Chelsea striker to do so since Diego Costa, and has continued his form with eight goals in seven pre-season games; he has also been given the number nine shirt following Liam Delap's departure from that role, with Delap now available for around £50m and drawing interest from Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.