Chelsea have been urged to prioritise a new contract for academy forward Chizaram Ezenwata following Freddy Bernal’s decision to commit his future to the Premier League club.

According to a report by The Athletic on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Bernal has signed a long-term contract extension that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2028/29 season.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper has spent most of his footballing development at Chelsea, having joined the club’s academy as an under-eight. He has progressed through the youth system and is now part of the under-21 setup, known as Cobham Next Gen.

Bernal enjoyed a successful 2025/26 campaign, playing an important role in Chelsea’s Under-18 Premier League title-winning side.

He has continued his development this season, making seven appearances for the under-21 team in the 2026/27 campaign. One of his notable performances came against Reading in the EFL Trophy, where he helped Chelsea secure a clean sheet.

With Bernal’s future now settled, attention has turned to Ezenwata, who Chelsea have been encouraged to tie down before his contract situation becomes a bigger concern.

The young forward signed his first professional contract with the Blues in December last year, but his current agreement is due to expire at the end of next season.

Although Chelsea still have time to negotiate fresh terms, delaying discussions could leave them vulnerable to losing another promising academy graduate.

The departure of Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool provides a clear example of the difficulties clubs can face when trying to retain highly rated youngsters.

Chelsea reportedly made several attempts to convince Ngumoha to remain at Stamford Bridge, offering assurances about his development and future opportunities. However, the winger opted to join Liverpool at the age of 16 because he believed Anfield offered a clearer pathway into senior football.

His subsequent progress has reinforced the importance of giving talented academy players a realistic opportunity to establish themselves in the first team.

Ezenwata has also strengthened his position with an impressive start to the current campaign. The 18-year-old has registered five goals and two assists in eight appearances across Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.

He has accumulated 720 minutes of playing time, more than any other Chelsea under-21 player this season, and is currently the team’s joint-leading scorer alongside Reggie Watson.

His pace, physical strength and intelligent movement inside the penalty area have made him an important attacking figure at youth level.

Chelsea will therefore be keen to ensure that his development continues at Cobham rather than risk losing another promising prospect to a rival club.

A loan move next season could also provide an important step in his progression, with Strasbourg and clubs in the Championship mentioned as possible destinations where he could gain regular senior experience.

Securing Ezenwata’s long-term future while providing a clear route towards first-team football could prove crucial to Chelsea’s efforts to protect their investment in one of their promising academy talents.