According to a report by Metro on Tuesday October 20, 2026, the Stamford Bridge club was adamant about keeping the young academy graduate Josh Acheampong despite increasing interest from multiple European clubs, and they allegedly turned down Manchester United's summer approach for the highly-rated defender.

One of football's bright defensive prospects is 20-year-old Acheampong. Arriving at Chelsea's youth academy when he was eight years old, he worked his way up to the senior squad and made his debut in May 2024, not long after signing his first professional contract.

This season, the versatile defender has become an integral part of Chelsea's first team, as he has played in six of the club's first seven Premier League matches and made 30 appearances overall last season.

Several European clubs, including Manchester United, reportedly approached Chelsea during the summer, but the Blues turned them all down. Michael Carrick wanted to bolster United's defensive options, but he prioritized midfield additions.

Supposedly, Chelsea views Acheampong as "untouchable" and is getting ready to give him a better contract. The current contract only extends until 2029, but the club is eager to keep him on after receiving offers from other teams.

In addition to Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, the Blues may be able to lock down Acheampong to a longer-term contract.

The defender and wing-back Jorrel Hato were outstanding in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton, and former England midfielder Danny Murphy praised their performances.

Murphy stated: "The defense is improving" while appearing on Match of the Day, a BBC program. "Getting a clean sheet" was a huge deal.

In his opinion, both Acheampong and Hato were outstanding as wing-backs. They played with more poise in the second half.

After the clean sheet, Murphy thought the confidence of Chelsea's defense and goalkeeper would increase, so he lauded their defensive organization and finishing skills.

This coming Saturday, Stamford Bridge will play host to Chelsea's London rivals Tottenham, who are presently in fourth place in the Premier League.