Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist has signed a new deal with the club. The 20-year-old defender has signed a contract through to 2026, with an option for a further year.

Reports also claim that Cole Palmer has been offered a new deal by the club, in just his first season.

Alfie Gilchrist and Cole Palmer, have both earned praise from Mauricio Pochettino ahead of facing Manchester United.

The Argentine was pleased to see Gilchrist’s breakthrough into the senior team, as he has been rewarded with a new contract.

Pochettino said: “It is good for a player who came through the Academy.

“You can see how Alfie feels the shirt and the badge. I congratulate him on getting the new contract.”

On Cole Palmer, Pochettino said: “Cole is a player that arrived now and of course he is doing well but he signed a contract for several years.

“If the club believes that we need to compensate a player, for sure the club is going to do it.

“He’s playing football, that is why we brought him. He’s an offensive and creative player that is doing well, but always the idea when we sign players is that they perform in the way that he is performing.”

Alfie has made 12 first-team appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season, five of them as a starter.