Gary Cahill has welcomed John Terry's contract extension as a "great boost" for Chelsea players and fans alike.
The 35-year-old's long association with the west London club had looked to be coming to an end, 17-and-a-half years after making the first of 703 appearances.
At the start of the year Terry said he would not be staying past the end of his contract this summer, but Chelsea insisted an offer may be forthcoming and it arrived last week.
The man Blues fans describe as 'Captain, Leader, Legend' put pen to paper on that new deal on Wednesday, ending months of speculation and giving team-mates like Cahill a boost.
"It's important," he said of his fellow defender. "All the lads are very happy, I am sure the fans are very happy, so it is a great end to the season in that respect.
"But, for us, I just echo what everyone is thinking: it is a great boost, a great boost for the club, it's a great lift for the players and obviously the fans.
"Although it kind of dragged on for a little while, it has been sorted now and we look forward to him being part of his squad like he has been for many, many, many, many, many years. It is fantastic news for us."
That news, and a new era at Stamford Bridge under Antonio Conte, is at the back of Cahill's mind for now, though, as Euro 2016 preparations step up.
With England captain Wayne Rooney unavailable due to the FA Cup final, the 41-cap defender will lead his country out for the second time when Turkey visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
It is one of three matches that Roy Hodgson has to play around with personnel and partnerships before Euro 2016, although the 26-man squad has to be trimmed to 23 by the end of the month.
"It is certainly a very good squad," Cahill told BBC Radio 5 live. "It is an exciting squad.
"It is a squad that has, not all of us but a lot of, been together now for two years and gone through the qualification campaign together and worked hard to get to where we are now.
"We feel like we've progressed so, for me, it's a very good squad and as an England player and fan an exciting squad."
Cahill is all but assured of a place in the squad given Hodgson has, perhaps surprisingly, only selected three out-and-out centre-backs.
The 30-year-old was quick to point out that defensive midfielder Eric Dier can drop back to join John Stones, Chris Smalling and himself, so cannot understand why people are getting het up about the decision.
"There's three centre-halves there and Eric can fill in in that role," Cahill said.
"You look at it as three centre-halves or do you look at it as four? There's the option there for the manager and ultimately he has decided to go that way.
"I don't see that being a big deal whatsoever, I see that as being perfectly fine."
Source: PA
