Josh Acheampong has spoken out after signing a new long-term contract at Chelsea. He penned a four-and-a-half-year deal having spent over six weeks without playing as the club pushed for a resolution to a stand-off.

In a first senior start last week against Astana, Acheampong returned fully into the first-team fold. He had been welcomed back into training prior to the game in Kazakhstan, indicating that things were moving towards a positive outcome.

Chelsea had barred the 18-year-old from playing matches after he backed out of committing his future to the club. An agreement is thought to have been reached before Acheampong pulled out with late concerns.

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Those appear to have been allayed, however, with an announcement of his deal until 2029 coming on Wednesday morning. Acheampong's previous contract, which had only been signed in January 2024, ran until the end of June 2026.

A host of top clubs have already expressed interest in the versatile youngster, who is able to play both centre-back and full-back, leading Chelsea to try and tie him down. His initial deal was the longest it could have been at the time.

Writing on Instagram to celebrate the signing, Acheampong wrote: "I’m so pleased to announce that I have signed a new contract with my boyhood club. Excited for this new chapter. It means so much and can’t wait to continue this journey [blue heart emoji]".

Manager Enzo Maresca added in a press conference later on Wednesday: “I'm very, very happy, very happy. With Josh it has been quite clear since pre-season, I didn't know him personally, but after two or three days that he was with us, he really impressed me.

"Since pre-season I was trying to understand a little bit with him the situation of his contract and these kinds of things. Now finally, the club found an agreement and we are all happy with him because we are all convinced, I am sure, that Josh can be a great player for this club.

Maresca added: "My personal opinion is that he has to stay close to us. So as much as we can keep him here, it's much better."

He is likely to start against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday in the Conference League. Acheampong was also named in Sunday's Premier League squad for the visit of Brentford. He made his first appearance as a substitute back in May under Mauricio Pochettino.