Which Chelsea Players Are Out of Contract This Summer?

Big screen inside Stamford Bridge” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Jason Bagley

Out-of-contract players at top clubs like Chelsea may be busy this summer with the Euro 2020 finals taking place. It could even be a shop window for those whose deals at Stamford Bridge are set to expire during the tournament.

Which Blues players have their contracts coming to an end? Let’s take a look.

Marco van Ginkel

Seven years during which time Netherlands midfielder Marco van Ginkel has spent more time injured and away from Chelsea on loan than in the first team are due to end this coming summer. He has played just four times for the Blues since signing in 2013.

Although loan spells with AC Milan and Stoke City weren’t particularly fruitful, Van Ginkel was prolific in a stint with PSV Eindhoven in his homeland last two and a half seasons. The Dutchman is still just 27 and there is time for him to rebuild his club career somewhere else.

Willian

Brazil winger Willian has been a fine servant and fan favourite at Chelsea following his £30,000,000 transfer from boom and bust Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013. With over 200 Premier League games and two titles under his belt, his time in West London has been hugely successful.

Besides those league crowns, Willian has EFL Cup and FA Cup winners’ medals and the 2019 Europa League. He has played for five different Blues bosses – Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and former teammate Frank Lampard.

Now 31, Willian is unlikely to be offered a new long-term deal at Chelsea. The club’s policy under Roman Abramovich has been to only put one-year contract offers on the table for players over the age of 30.

If he does leave the Bridge, then Willian will not be short of suitors. He remains in favour under Lampard, however, and will look to help the Blues to a top four finish which they are 4/9 to get, according to the latest Premier League betting at bet365.

Pedro

Fellow winger Pedro isn’t always first-choice these days. The World Cup and European Championship winning Spaniard matched his best-ever scoring season last term with 13 goals, but Lampard isn’t giving him much game time now.

Youngsters such as Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic are ahead of Pedro, who signed for Chelsea from Barcelona in 2015, in the pecking order now. Although a senior player for the Blues, he hasn’t turned out for Spain since 2017 – with another generation now preferred at international level.

Olivier Giroud

France striker Olivier Giroud has also fallen out of favour under Lampard despite firing Chelsea to Europa League glory last season. The current Blues boss prefers Tammy Abraham as his centre forward.

Giroud offers a different kind of threat than those younger legs, but his physical presence is not really in keeping with Lampard’s style of play. He remains a key player for his country, however, and he may need to leave the Bridge even before his contract expires during the winter window to get first-team football.

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