Chelsea transfer blow as Leicester ace Wesley Fofana signs bumper new five-year contract worth £120,000 a week
LEICESTER CITY have pulled off a major signing coup after Wesley Fofana agreed to sign a new long-term contract until 2027.
The outstanding defender, 21, had been targeted by Chelsea as a potential replacement for Andreas Christensen or Antonio Rudiger, who could both quit for Spain for free in the summer.
Fofana was being eyed up as a potential replacement by Thomas Tuchel, who expected to face stiff competition from Real Madrid, Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool for the French Under-21 star.
However, Brendan Rodgers has moved swiftly to head off the threat by convincing the strapping defender he wants to build his new look Leicester team around him.
Despite his youth, Fofana will now join Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel as one of the Foxes’ highest paid players – on around £120,000 a week – after extending his current contract until 2027.
And there was more good news for Leicester fans as the speedy centre-half could be ready to make a dramatic return to action against Stade Rennais in the Uefa Conference League on Thursday.
Fofana, a bargain £32million buy from Saint-Etienne has been back in full training with his team-mates since February 14 after suffering a horror leg break and ligament damage in a pre-season friendly against Valencia.
He became a firm fans’ favourite last season as he made 38 appearances in all competitions, helping the club to its first ever FA Cup.
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He rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting young defenders in world football and a target for a string of leading European clubs.
Speaking to LCFC TV, Fofana said: “I’m really happy to sign a new contract. It shows the Club have confidence in me offering me a contract to 2027.
“I’m really happy to be here. It’s my club, I love the fans, so I’m really happy and really looking forward to being back playing.
“I love everything about the club. I love the city, I love the fans. It’s a family which is what I love the most.
“Everyone is close and gets on well. We also have a great team and are continuing to progress, with a desire to win more trophies.
“That’s why I have committed my future to the Club until 2027. I want to achieve more with the club. There is a lot of talent here and still a lot more we can do together.”
Foxes boss Rodgers welcomed the news and believes Fofana can continue to keep Leicester challenging for honours at home and abroad.
And there could be a shock return for the defender against old foes Rennes on Thursday.
“There is a chance of him making the first-leg,” Rodgers confirmed.
“It was a massive loss for us when he got injured.
“The other guys have filled in manfully and done the best they can, but you’ve seen with the likes of Liverpool, the difference when they are missing Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip.
“He takes the team to a new dimension. This is a top, top player, no question, at a top level.
“I’ve worked with lots of top talents who have gone on to become top professionals, but I’ve got absolutely no doubt in this boy.
“I watch him out my window virtually every day, doing his recovery and rehabilitation.
“The other day he was doing an individual defending session with Kolo Toure and just seeing his physicality, his anticipation and reading of the game.. this is a boy that is top, top level.
“When we have him back, then it’s another dimension added to the team again and a step closer to where we want to go.
“When you’re missing Jamie Vardy and two centre-halves like Jonny Evans and Wesley, with all due respect to a club or team like us, that’s a big, big difference.”
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