Chelsea have managed to pin down the highly rated young defender Josh Acheampong to a new long-term contract.

Acheampong only made his first senior start for the club in last week’s Conference League clash with Astana in Kazakhstan’s capital, but has long since been considered a promising talent.

The 18-year-old has already broken into the under-21 side and extended his deal to June 2026 at the start of the year. Negotiations over a further extension stalled this season, leading to a frosty standoff between the player and club. Acheampong was banned from all club activities at any level until he committed his future to Chelsea.

This fractious vacuum opened a window for Real Madrid to register an interest in the prodigious right-back.

Tensions have cooled in recent months and, after The Athletic first revealed an agreement had been reached, Chelsea formally confirmed an extension had been signed.

There is no talk of a salary, but the initial report describes the agreement as a “statement of intent” for the recruitment department. Alongside Madrid, several Premier League clubs were also interested in the 18-year-old.

Chelsea captain Reece James is a significant barrier to Acheampong’s route into the first team. Even during the skipper’s numerous injury layoffs, Malo Gusto offers a senior alternative to the academy graduate.

While Acheampong’s Premier League involvement may remain limited in the near future, he will now be free to be called upon in the various cup competitions which Chelsea are involved in. The Blues still have one remaining Conference League first-round tie against Shamrock Rovers and have been drawn against fourth-tier Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup.

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Manchester United are ready to loan Marcus Rashford out in the January transfer window to give him the opportunity to raise his transfer value, as they did with Jadon Sancho. (Graeme Bailey)

Potentially replacing Rashford could be Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, who had been identified as the dream signing by Man Utd officials. (Fichajes – Spain)

Arsenal are leading the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Leicester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur are all interested in his services. (CaughtOffside)

Bournemouth have opened talks to sign Lanus left-back Julio Soler amid uncertainty over the future of Milos Kerkez. (Uriel Lugt)

Manchester City are ready to bid €50m (£41.4m) for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who has been personally identified as a target by manager Pep Guardiola. (Fichajes – Spain)

Also on Man City’s radar are Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson. (GIVEMESPORT)

Real Madrid are ready to sell centre-backs Eder Militao and David Alaba at the end of the season. (Real Madrid Confidencial)

Liverpool’s contract talks with winger Luis Diaz have stalled because the Colombia international is pushing for a move to Barcelona. (Antena2 – Colombia)

Galatasaray are in talks to sign Roma forward Paulo Dybala, whose contract expires this summer. (Sky Sports Germany)

PSG centre-back Milan Skriniar is also in advanced talks over a loan move to Galatasaray. (Ertan Suzgun)

West Ham United have been following 22-year-old Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. (Fabrizio Romano)

Everton are looking at Rangers striker Hamza Igamane amid questions over the futures of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto. (TBR Football)

Aston Villa could recall midfielder Enzo Barrenechea from his loan with Valencia in January. (Estadio Deportivo – Spain)

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According to a recent report from Fichajes, Barcelona have secured their first signing for 2025; Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen.

The outlet mentions that the German centre-back, currently one of the standout players at the Bundesliga club, has agreed to join the Blaugrana after reaching a deal with his agent, Pini Zahavi.

At 28 years old, Tah is seen as a key figure in Bayer Leverkusen’s setup. He played a pivotal role in their title-winning campaign, helping them win the Bundesliga trophy last season.

Known for his strong defensive presence and leadership qualities, Tah’s arrival is expected to provide Barcelona with much-needed experience and depth in their defensive lineup.

Barcelona want to strengthen their backline

This move comes as Barcelona look to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. Tah’s experience at the top level of German football makes him a strategic addition for the Catalan club, who are eager to bolster their backline.

The addition of the German international would not only meet Barcelona’s sporting needs but could also pave the way for further significant moves in the summer transfer window.

As part of their strategy to manage finances, Barcelona may look to sell a few of their current defenders.

Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo, both of whom have attracted interest from other clubs, could be among those to leave, potentially generating considerable funds for the club.

With Tah set to play a central role in Barcelona’s defence, the club is looking at a renewal that combines both stability and future potential.

His leadership and defensive qualities are expected to make him a key figure under head coach Hansi Flick, who is familiar with his capabilities and views him as an ideal fit for his defensive rotation system.