£4m defender’s new contract could have major knock-on effect for Chelsea’s summer transfer plans | OneFootball

It was a week ago we reported that Ishe Samuels-Smith had signed a new contract at Chelsea, which backed up what we reported exclusively earlier this month – that the young left back was going to sign a new contract and was on the verge of being integrated into the club’s first team plans.

Today, Football.London are reporting much the same thing. The 18 year old is now tied down until the summer of 2031, and despite having yet to make his first team debut, is clearly very highly rated, and might be closer to first team action than it would seem.

Samuels-Smith is not a true academy product – he was bought as a 16 year old from Everton in 2023, but he’s shone at youth level is is a regular captain in the age group sides. He likely would already have made a senior debut in the Conference League had he qualified as home grown – which he will from this summer.

His two squad appearances came in the FA Cup game against Brighton in February and the Premier League game against Southampton a couple of weeks later.

Two paths diverge for ISS

Ishe Samuels-Smith in a men’s training session. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

While a loan to the Championship is usually the natural move for a player ready to take their first steps in senior football, we’ve seen the success the likes of Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong have had this season by sticking around the first team and waiting for their chances.

Samuels-Smith has an even more direct route to the first team because of his position. We have Marc Cucurella at left back but not much behind him – Renato Veiga is loaned out and could leave in the summer, and it’s the same story with Ben Chilwell.

If we don’t go out and buy a left back this summer, we can be fairly sure we’ll get plenty of Samuels-Smith action next season.