Ethan Ampadu has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea and pledged to work hard to become a first team regular.
The Wales teenager – who delivered a sublime man-of-the-match performance in his country’s 4-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland earlier this month – has agreed a new deal just a week after turning 18.
That virtuoso display earned the praise of Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who predicted the teenager would become a “magnificent player”.
The son of former Swansea City player Kwame Ampadu, he is yet to feature under new head coach Maurizio Sarri, but made seven appearances under his predecessor Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge last term.
Ampadu said: “I’m really proud and happy. I’m looking forward to the next five years and all I have got to do now is continue to work hard, and hopefully good things will happen.”
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “Ethan has shown great potential and unbelievable maturity since arriving at Chelsea a year ago.
“In this short time he convinced a lot of people with his exceptional quality and mentality and we look forward to watching him develop into a key player for the club over the coming years.”
Asked last week what Ampadu has to do to break into the Chelsea starting XI, Sarri said: “In this first period, for me it was very important not to change especially the defensive line.
“But I hope in the future to be able to give space to everyone, even the defenders. In the first period, as you know, it’s very difficult to change the defensive line.”
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock claimed last week that he would be keen to take Ampadu on loan, saying he “doesn’t look out of place” at the top level, but such a move looks highly unlikely with Ampadu considered a key part of Chelsea’s current plans.
He could yet be involved in Thursday’s Europa League clash at PAOK in Greece.
Ampadu signed from Exeter in July 2017 with the fee of up to £2.5m agreed by tribunal in April.
He made his debut aged 17 years and six days in the Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest and became the first player born this millennium to start for Chelsea in the next round against Everton.