Billy Gilmour makes heart-warming surprise appearance after signing new Chelsea contract

Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour made a heart-warming surprise visit to take part in a charity football match after signing a new deal with the Blues.

Gilmour spent the 2021/22 season on-loan at Norwich City, featuring 28 times for the Canaries in all competitions. The Blues exercised an option to extend the 21-year-old's contract until 2024 earlier this month and will now remain at Stamford Bridge for the next two years.

Gilmour joined Chelsea's academy from Rangers back in 2017 and is now a Scotland international that featured in last year's Euro 2020 competition. After agreeing to a contract extension with the Blues, Gilmour returned to the Perthshire village of Stanley this weekend in a surprise charity football match appearance.

Scottish news outlet The Courier revealed Gilmour returned to Stanley this weekend, a village he visits regularly to see family friends and took part in a charity football match. Gilmour was on hand to help raise funds for a Blairgowrie charity with the match seeing Stanley Amateurs take on a team of former players to raise money for Mantalk, a mental health charity.

The Scotland international recently earned his 15th cap for his nation during the recent international break. Gilmour said: "I have often visited Stanley and I really enjoy coming to the area."

The 21-year-old offered to sign plenty of autographs and posed for pictures with fans at the match. Gilmour continued: “I’ve had a busy time but I am already raring to go for the new season.”

Mantalk is a mental health charity based in Blairgowrie dedicated to helping men who are struggling with their mental health, addictions and any other issues. They can be contacted on mantalk2021@gmail.com or via their Facebook page.