Why Joao Pedro signed new 12-month Chelsea contract as Xabi Alonso's next priority decided

Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has signed a one-year contract extension with the Blues, and the Brazilian has explained his reasoning for committing to another 12 months in West London.

Pedro originally joined Chelsea on an eight-year deal in the summer of 2025 and took no time at all to win over the Stamford Bridge crowd thanks to a string of electric performances.

The 24-year-old was voted Chelsea's Player of the Season for the 2025-26 campaign after amassing 23 goals and nine assists in 53 games in all tournaments, including 15 strikes and eight helpers in the Premier League.

Pedro's form was astonishingly not enough to earn him a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad, but the ex-Watford man picked up where he left off in pre-season, scoring seven goals in Chelsea's summer friendlies.

Ahead of the Blues' opening Premier League match with Fulham in Monday's West London derby, Chelsea have confirmed that Pedro has put pen to paper on a new contract until 2034, meaning he now has the joint-longest running deal at Stamford Bridge alongside Geovany Quenda.

Joao Pedro explains reasons for signing new Chelsea deal

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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 22, 2026

"I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea," Pedro told the official Chelsea website. "I always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club.

"Chelsea has a long tradition of winning and it has big ambitions for the future. I have a very good relationship with everyone here at the club and I have felt at home here in London from the moment that I joined.

"Everyone is very excited for this season. We know we can achieve a lot of things, we have a great team, we have a coach who wants to win and has won already. I am fully committed, everyone is ready and hopefully we can achieve our targets."

Pedro's new Chelsea deal will keep the South American in the English capital until his 33rd birthday, and he is believed to have been granted a bumper pay rise to reflect his importance to the squad.

The 24-year-old was estimated to have been earning £125,000 a week on his previous Blues agreement, but his extension likely brings him in line with top earners Wesley Fofana and Reece James, both on £200k per week.

Joao Pedro signs new Chelsea deal: Who next for Blues?

Renowned for dishing out seven and eight-year deals to new recruits - both before and after the amortisation loophole allowing them to spread the cost over such a time period was closed - Chelsea have no players due to leave for nothing in 2027.

Instead, five members of Xabi Alonso's squad are out of contract in 2028, although two of them are Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, recruited on two-year deals this summer.

Chelsea extending either veteran's contract is not out of the question, as Thiago Silva was signed on an initial 12-month agreement in 2020 and ended up staying for four full seasons, but it would be a surprise to see either given a renewal.

The same goes for Tosin Adarabioyo, Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Gabriel Slonina - also in the final two years of their deals - so Chelsea could now divert their attention to the 2029 crop.

Fofana and Levi Colwill are among that group, and the latter should be the Blues' next priority for an extension, so long as he maintains his indispensable status.