No football club has seen more domestic minutes played by stars under contract until at least 2026 than Chelsea, a report has revealed.
Enzo Maresca’s side have impressively had 91.8 per cent of their ‘minutes secured’ this season by players under contract for at least another 12 months, data from CIES Football Observatory shows.
The figure shows the Blues are well protected for the future, whether that be due to their young squad continuing to develop or the sale of stars under contract for a number of years.
Chelsea came out on top in an analysis of 37 league across the world, narrowly finishing ahead of Ligue 1 side Monaco and Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar on 91.3 and 89.2 per cent respectively.
It is little surprise to see the Blues lead the way in this most unique of metrics, given their extraordinary decision to hand out lengthy contracts to young players since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium purchased the side in 2022.
Incredibly, the Blues have 17 players contracted to the club for at least the next five years. That number balloons to 25 for deals expiring in or after 2028 and 30 after 2026.
No football club has seen more domestic minutes played by stars under contract until at least 2026 than Chelsea
Chelsea have handed lengthy contracts to young players since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium purchased the side in 2022
Coventry City are the only second tier side to feature in the top 10 of CIES Football Observatory’s study
Chelsea’s mega deals include the likes of Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez who are both currently on nine-year contracts at Stamford Bridge.
CIES collected data from 37 leagues across the world. Remarkably, Championship outfit Coventry ranked eighth overall with a percentage of 86.2 per cent. The Sky Blues have been rejuvenated since the appointment of Frank Lampard.
In the Premier League, Manchester United and Arsenal complete the top three for ‘minutes secured’. The Red Devils have a percentage of 86.4, while the Gunners sit on 85.3.
At the other end of the scale are league leaders Liverpool, with a ‘minutes secured’ percentage of just 58.1. With three of their star players out of contract sat the end of the season, this metric was never going to be kind on the Anfield club.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have featured in every league game for Arne Slot’s side this season, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is an automatic pick when fit.
The trio’s futures at Merseyside are still undecided as the clock ticks down on their deals.
The Premier League side with the lowest ‘minutes secured’ so far this season are Everton, with just 34.4 per cent. The Toffees have a mind-blowing 10 players out of contract in the summer and a further four running until 2025.
The likes of James Tarkowski, Vitaliy Mykolenko and James Garner will be free to walk in 12 months time if new deals aren’t agreed, while Jordan Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite are two of the seven players with contracts running until 2026.
Liverpool are among the lowest rank sides, owing to the uncertain futures of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk
Manchester City are set for a summer of change, having endured their toughest campaign since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016
Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain rank fourth among clubs in Europe’s big five leagues for ‘minutes secured’ with a percentage of 87.9 per cent
As with the current league standings, both Leicester City and Southampton find themselves in the bottom three, with percentages of 55.2 and 56.1 respectively.
It could spell bad news for the sides who could see a max exodus this summer once their immediate returns to the Championship are confirmed.
Elsewhere, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain rank fourth among clubs in Europe’s big five leagues for ‘minutes secured’ with a percentage of 87.9 per cent. The French club have made a concerted effort to revamp their approach in recent seasons, pivoting from high-value expensive signings in favour of younger local-born roster.
The fruits of this labour have been best shown in their progress in the Champions League, where they have reached the quarter-final after dumping favourites Liverpool out of the competition.
Returning to the English top flight, Bournemouth and West Ham round out the top five, while Manchester City sit conspicuously in the bottom half with a ‘minutes secured’ of 68.6 per cent.
Pep Guardiola’s side are set for a summer of change, having endured their toughest campaign since the Spaniard’s arrival in 2016. The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker – currently on loan at AC Milan – and Ederson could all leave the club as the side look to transition to a new, younger side.
