Revealed: The clause that means Tammy Abraham has three more years on his Chelsea contract

Tammy Abraham’s Chelsea future is not in any doubt after it emerged that the striker now has three years remaining on his contract, but the club still want to reward him with a new long-term deal.

The last contract Abraham signed in 2017 initially ran to 2022, raising fears that Chelsea needed to agree a new deal this summer to prevent any threat of losing the England international or being forced into a corner in negotiations.

But Telegraph Sport can reveal that 22-year-old Abraham activated a one-year extension clause this season by reaching a set number of games and goals, which means his contract runs to 2023.

Abraham, who is Chelsea’s top scorer with 16 goals in 40 appearances this season, also earned a pay rise to his previous £50,000-a-week deal he signed three years ago.

It is understood that Chelsea still plan to reward Abraham with a new long-term contract, together with a big pay rise, but the previously unknown extension explains why there is not yet any panic on either side.

Chelsea have agreed long-term contracts with their other breakthrough youngsters Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Reece James and Billy Gilmour over the past 12 months, but Abraham’s situation has been viewed differently because of the one-year extension.

Negotiations over a long-term contract are likely to take place but, contrary to some reports, Abraham has not made any demands to be paid the same as team-mate Hudson-Odoi, who is thought to now earn around £120,000-a-week.

Chelsea’s signing of forward Timo Werner has also not impacted the value the club place on Abraham, whose goals have been crucial in helping the Blues to third place in the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United.

Abraham scored for the first time in nine Premier League games as a substitute against Crystal Palace in midweek and will now be hoping to start at Bramall Lane.

“Tammy is, in his personality, very good around the group,” said Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard. “We had a conversation before the Palace game, so I was very pleased he scored and I was delighted he broke the run (of not scoring) against them. I hope there is an uplift for him.”

Lampard will be without Gilmour for as long as four months after the midfielder had surgery on a knee injury he suffered against Palace, but the Scottish 19-year-old has been backed to return even stronger.

“I’m obviously very disappointed, as we all are here, and Billy is himself,” said Lampard. “I spoke with him yesterday at length, just giving him support and being there. He’s a tough boy and it hit him hard. I get that as well, being a younger player who just made a breakthrough and was doing so well.

“But it is part of football and I explained he should be very pleased with what he’s done and the impact he’s had. His attitude will get him back as quick as he possibly can.

“His character, for me, is fantastic, particularly with his age, the personality he has shown getting in and around the first-team squad, pushing himself into the team, I’m very sure he will show the same character to get over the injury and that he will do everything right and put in the work and the rehab. He will mentally tackle it and I know he’s got a close-knit family around him and we will be there for him. The small bonus is it will cover a period which is off-season and maybe pre-season so hopefully not missing as many games as he might have done.”