Chelsea have announced that academy goalkeeper Freddy Bernal has signed a long-term contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2028/29 campaign.

The England youth international joined the Blues as an under-eight and now plays for the under-21s (Cobham Next Gen). Bernal’s biggest highlight at Chelsea so far was arguably winning the Under-18 Premier League title last season.

The 18-year-old has made seven appearances for Cobham Next Gen in 2026/27, keeping a clean sheet against Reading in the EFL Trophy. Chelsea will be delighted to have secured his long-term future, but they should already be working on another important contract extension.

Chelsea must secure Chizaram Ezenwata’s future after Freddy Bernal

The next academy player Chelsea need to tie down to a long-term contract is Chizaram Ezenwata. ‘Chizzy’ signed his first professional contract last December, which expires at the end of next season.

The Blues still have plenty of time to negotiate with Ezenwata’s representatives, but securing his future should be a priority. Chelsea will want to avoid a repeat of the Rio Ngumoha situation, as his controversial move to Liverpool has cost them millions.

Chelsea were desperate to keep Ngumoha and offered him several guarantees, but he chose to join Liverpool at 16 because he believed there was a better pathway to the first team. Ngumoha is now a Premier League star and a full England international, suggesting he made a wise decision.

While Ezenwata has not received the same hype as Ngumoha, he is a very talented prospect. The 18-year-old has played the most minutes (720) for Chelsea’s under-21s this season and has scored five goals, joint-most alongside Reggie Watson.

The striker is exceptionally quick and strong, suggesting he could soon be physically ready for senior football. He is also an intelligent player inside the penalty area, finding space and taking up good goalscoring positions, which has helped him become prolific at youth level.

The next step for Ezenwata will probably be a loan move next season to help bridge the gap between Cobham Next Gen and the first team. Strasbourg are always an option for Chelsea’s young players, but a move to a Championship club could make the most sense.