According to a report by FootballTransfers on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, reports indicate that Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong is wary of committing to the club for the long haul due to increasing doubts about his starting role under new manager Xabi Alonso.

Despite Chelsea's earlier declaration that the 20-year-old was "untouchable," his representatives are seeking more concrete proof of consistent playing time before commencing contract negotiations.

After making his senior debut for Chelsea in 2024, Acheampong has gone on to make over 50 appearances for the club in all competitions. He came up through Chelsea's academy.

However, numerous clubs were interested in him, hoping to capitalize on his limited playing time, since he only made eight Premier League appearances last season.

The England youth international was supposedly being tracked by several clubs during the summer transfer window, including Crystal Palace, Liverpool, and Manchester United.

After Alonso arrived, Chelsea turned down bids for the defender because they saw him as crucial to their future plans.

Because of this decision, Acheampong has started six of Chelsea's last nine matches in all competitions, suggesting that he has benefited.

As Alonso slowly but surely establishes his preferred team selection, he has also been featured frequently.

The BBC states that Acheampong's camp is still "cautious" about speeding up contract talks until there is "clearer evidence" that he can become a regular starter, even though his involvement has really improved.

Next summer, with two years left on his contract, Chelsea will have to make a crucial decision regarding the defender. His current agreement is valid until 2029.

As is their wont, Chelsea has never been one to let players reach the final stages of contracts without settling their futures.

As a result, the team may try to resolve Wesley Fofana's contract issues and get Acheampong and fellow young defender Levi Colwill to sign extension deals.

At this time, Acheampong is not involved in any ongoing discussions regarding a new contract. Given that he nearly left Stamford Bridge in 2024 before signing his current contract, his future with the club could be especially precarious.

This time, it was to draw attention to the possible problems that could arise during negotiations because Chelsea briefly removed him from selection while his future was being resolved.