Transfer Market Football Players with the Longest Contracts: Chelsea Dominates, Barcelona’s Roque is the Only One

The renowned website Transfer Market has listed the 15 football players with the longest contracts in the world of soccer, with Chelsea occupying eight spots, and Barcelona’s Roque also making the list.

The report points out that in past years, the longest contract duration between football clubs and players was generally five years. However, the situation has undergone a significant change, especially under the pressure of the PSR (Premier League Sustainability Regulation) and FFP (UEFA Financial Fair Play). More and more clubs are inclined to sign longer-term contracts with players — this allows the amortization of player salaries or costs over a longer period, improving the club’s financial statements for specific periods and alleviating financial pressures.

Of course, there is another possibility, such as the club having great trust in the player and hoping that he will serve the team for a long time in the future, hence offering a contract exceeding five years. In summary, Transfer Market has listed the 15 football players with the longest contracts.

Palmer from Chelsea ranks first with a contract duration of 9 years, valid until June 2033. Tied for second place are three players: Chelsea’s Enzo, Bilbao’s Vivian and Sanset, all with 8-year contracts, valid until June 2032.

Tied for fifth place are 11 players: Chelsea’s Kaseido, Mudryk, Neto, Vega, Jackson, and Philip-Jorgensen; West Ham United’s Wan-Bissaka, Kilman; Athletic Bilbao’s Prados; Barcelona’s rising star Roque; and Osasuna’s Moncayola. They all have 7-year contracts, valid until June 2031.

In summary, Chelsea has 8 players with contracts lasting 7 years or more. If the total contract duration of all players currently at Chelsea were added up, it would reach 196 years. In the Premier League, the closest to Chelsea’s figure is Tottenham Hotspur, but they only have 97 years, less than half of Chelsea’s total. This is partly due to Chelsea having more players overall, and partly because Chelsea likes to offer ultra-long-term contracts to players. Transfer Market points out that while it’s undeniable that Chelsea does have a considerable number of talented young stars, this situation can also bring about side effects, creating additional difficulties for the Blues when they need to sell players due to their high salaries and long-term contracts.