Why Chelsea should offer Thiago Silva a new contract

According to a report by TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Daily Star), Chelsea are in talks with 36-year-old Thiago Silva to extend his current contract by one year.

The Brazilian defender was signed in the summer from PSG on a one-year deal but could be offered a new contract that sees his stay extended at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2022. (h/t Daily Star)

Profile

Thiago Silva started his career playing for Brazilian club RS Futebol in 2002. He switched clubs and joined Juventude in 2003. After making 36 appearances and scoring thrice in just a year, Silva was snapped up by FC Porto’s B team in 2004. A loan move to Dynamo Moscow didn’t work out in 2005 and Silva returned to his boyhood club Fluminense in 2006.

Three rock-solid seasons with over 100 appearances for Fluminense saw AC Milan sign him in 2009. Following 3 years at the San Siro, Thiago Silva joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2012. After winning 16 domestic trophies and 7 league titles in 8 years in Paris, the defender joined Chelsea this summer on a free transfer.

Thiago Silva is the leader in this Chelsea team

For the first time since John Terry’s departure in 2017, Chelsea look like they have a leader at the back. Thiago Silva has started for Frank Lampard’s side whenever he has been available for selection. The Brazilian has featured in 9 games for Chelsea this season, wearing the armband in three of them.

The Blues have kept 6 clean sheets in those 9 games, losing none. In fact, Chelsea’s only two losses this season have come when Thiago Silva hasn’t started for them. The ex-PSG man even opened his scoring tally for the club in a 4-1 Premier League win against Sheffield United.

Thiago Silva’s heatmap shows that he is a centre-back who is not afraid to venture forward. Silva averages over 100 touches and has a pass accuracy of 92.3% per game in the league this season, which shows that Chelsea have found a very able defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Thiago Silva also has a wealth of experience that he can impart on Chelsea’s young backline. Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, and Andreas Christensen could all profit from playing alongside a veteran like Silva.

Verdict

With over 600 senior appearances behind him in his professional career and a body that doesn’t look like giving in anytime soon, Thiago Silva has a lot he can offer Chelsea in his time at the club. He is the captain of the Brazil national team and is still very much a pinned starter at the back for them.

The experience, leadership, and quality that a player of Thiago Silva’s calibre brings to Chelsea are what can make the difference if the Blues are to lift a title within the next two years. Taking note of everything mentioned above, extending Silva’s stay at Stamford Bridge seems like a no-brainer on Frank Lampard’s part.