England U21 defender Levi Colwill has signed a new six-year contract with Chelsea. The deal also has the option for a further year.
The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the best young central defender in European football and has featured in several matches in pre-season.
Colwill was linked with the likes of Liverpool and Brighton earlier this summer.
Colwill told the club’s official website: “It’s always been an easy decision. As I’ve grown up, all I’ve known is Chelsea.
“I’ve spoken with the manager and he’s given me reassurance, that trust I needed. He’s spoken with me not just as a player but a person. It’s made a big difference.”
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “[I am] so happy to have him in the squad and have the possibility to work together.
“I was clear with him, we were talking and one of the things we were talking [about] was for him to have the possibility to compete with different team-mates, about deserving to play and for sure if he deserves to play he is going to play.
“Of course there is the possibility to play, because Ben [Badiashile] is injured. [His chances] are higher because he is left [footed] and you know it’s a centre-back and he will compete with Ben. But he needs to deserve [it].
“It is not that because one player is injured, there are different types of combinations that can happen. He needs to show that he is ready to play and deserves to play.”
