Gary Neville slams Chelsea’s ‘crazy’ eight-year contracts – saying they make young players feel ‘genuinely rich’ and take away their motivation
Gary Neville believes Chelsea’s “crazy” eight-year contracts are harming the motivation of their young players.
Todd Boehly handed out lengthy contracts to new arrivals during a billion-pound spending spree in the first few transfer windows after buying the club.
Mykhailo Mudryk was handed an eight-and-a-half year contract when Chelsea signed him from Shakhtar Donetsk for £88.5 million in January 2023.
Enzo Fernandez, signed from Benfica for £106.8million in the same window, has put pen to paper on a contract of a similar length, which does not expire until 2031.
Moises Caicedo, who arrived for £115 million in August 2023, has signed an eight-year contract, as has striker Nicolas Jackson.
Moises Caicedo (left) and Nicolas Jackson (right) in stylish designer clothes – Gary Neville suggested Chelsea players on long-term contracts are ‘genuinely rich’ and lack motivation
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, who has signed a 7.5 year contract, pictured on holiday in Sint Maarten
Mykhailo Mudryk (left) and Enzo Fernandez (right) were given eight-and-a-half year contracts by Chelsea when they signed
Fernandez pictured outside a Cartier boutique in London in one of his Instagram photos
Englishman Cole Palmer, pictured on holiday in Dubai, has signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea
Other Chelsea players who have signed long-term contracts include Noni Madueke, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer.
The idea was to help Chelsea comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules by spreading the cost of players over the long term, a loophole which has since been closed.
But Neville believes a young player who believes he is “truly rich” after signing such a long contract will not give his all for the cause.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast about the next steps Mauricio Pochettino’s side need to take, he said: “They need good, experienced signings, they can’t go down the route of eight-year signings.
“Eight-year contracts are bad in many ways because I just don’t think they make sense. But in reality, they are not good for a young player.
“The money is that big and you think you have an eight-year contract as a 21 or 22 year old, the club might think they have a security on you, but the young player thinks: ‘I’m rich, I’m really rich.
“For some it’s a problem, it just affects their state of mind.
“What is the motivation? For you and your family, you hope this is motivation. For your teammates and for your manager, do the right thing.
Gary Neville believes long-term contracts remove young players’ motivation to perform
Chelsea have endured a difficult season and are on course to finish mid-table.
“But then you sometimes think, after a year or eight months, ‘I have to fight for this new contract, I only have three or two years left.’
“Some of them have seven years left!” These contracts are crazy in every way.
“Forget FFP and everything that happened, forget the fact that if they make a mistake you’re stuck with them for a long time.
“Just for the young players themselves, to think they have that comfort.”
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly spent more than £1 billion on new signings after buying the club.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino under pressure with Chelsea under construction
Former Manchester United defender Neville admitted he previously signed a contract of a similar length at Old Trafford but knew manager Sir Alex Ferguson would not forgive any breach of standards.
“I say that, I already signed a seven-year contract when I was 24. But I was solid as a rock,” Neville added.
“He (Ferguson) would have gotten rid of me after 10 minutes, forget the seven-year contract!” He would have thrown me out, he was in control.
