UEFA Champions League champions, Chelsea have extended the contracts of Thiago Silva and Olivier Giroud less than two weeks after becoming champions of Europe.
The initial contracts of Thiago Silva and Olivier Giroud ought to expire this summer but the club decided to extend the contract by a season due to their relevance in their Champions League campaign in the just-concluded season.
Thiago Silva and Olivier Giroud are arguably two of the most experienced players at Chelsea. Recall that Silva who captained Paris Saint Germain to the 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League final joined Chelsea ahead of the 2020-2021 season.
Based on the leadership skills he has shown at Chelsea throughout the 2020-2021 season, he has been given a one-year deal which means that the Brazilian veteran defender would stay at the club until the end of the 2021-2022 season.
“Thiago has duly shown everyone at Chelsea his immense quality throughout this season, and he has had a huge influence on and off the pitch for us,” said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.
“We said when he signed that we hoped Thiago would add new trophies to his impressive list of honors, and he has done just that with our success in the Champions League this weekend. We now hope that he carries on in the same fashion in the coming year.”
As for Olivier Giroud, the 34-year-old French striker also extended his stay at Chelsea for one more season. The France international will remain at the London club until the end of the 2021-2022 season.
“Olivier has been such a crucial part of so many big moments for this club, from his contribution to our FA Cup victory in 2018 to scoring 11 goals on the way to winning the Europa League in 2019,” Granovskaia said.
“He has continued to score significant goals, and we will never forget his effort against Atletico Madrid on the way to winning the Champions League this season.
“With so much to still to play for, there was only one decision we could make when we exercised the option to extend his contract back in April.”
Meanwhile, the club coach, Thomas Tuchel has also signed a contract extension which will keep him at the club for another two seasons.
Recall that the German tactician joined the Premier League club less than two months after Paris Saint Germain sacked him. He was first given 18 months contract but his excellent performance at the club in the just concluded 2020-2021 season has earned him a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until June 2024.
