Armando Broja has signed a new six-year deal with Chelsea, securing his future after a wealth of reported interest in the transfer window.
The 20-year-old caught the eye during a loan spell with Southampton last season, scoring six times in the Premier League, with Everton and West Ham reportedly keen on a similar deal in the recently closed window.
However, Broja remained with Thomas Tuchel’s side, having featured off the bench three times in the opening five games of the Premier League season.
The signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona on Thursday led to queries on whether Broja would continue to earn first-team opportunities, but Chelsea have shown a strong commitment to the Albania international, with chairman Todd Boehly stating he is a “big part of our plans moving forward.”
Broja said: “I’m lost for words really just thinking about it. It’s the club I’ve dreamed of playing for my whole life, the club that I support and the club that I love.
“I’ve been here since I was a boy so it’s a surreal feeling for me and my family.”
Aubameyang is likely to compete with Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz to lead Chelsea’s attack, but with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner having both left Stamford Bridge, Broja should have plenty of chances to prove his worth in a congested season due to the upcoming Qatar World Cup.