Ruben Loftus-Cheek agrees Chelsea deal

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has signed a contract at Stamford Bridge that runs to 2021.

Guus Hiddink confirmed the club were in negotiations with the 20-year-old in January and he has now agreed a new five-year deal.

Loftus-Cheek has made nine appearances for Chelsea this season and scored his first career goal in the FA Cup win over Scunthorpe United last month.

"I'm delighted to sign a new contract at Chelsea and my focus is on working hard in training every day in order to push on and establish myself in the team," Loftus-Cheek told the club's official website.

"It really means a lot because this shows the club believe in me so I'm really happy.

"The club have done so much for me since I started here as an Under-8 and now I want to repay the faith they have shown in me with my performances on the pitch."

Manager Hiidink told a news conference on Monday: "We brought him in and have had him training with us, with a special analysis of how to progress and he's working on that.

"He's a young guy, when I came here I thought he was 23 or 24, but he was only 19, which indicates he has a big future and we have worked specifically on a plan for him to improve.

"It will pay off in the the upcoming games and he will have his minutes."

Chelsea also announced that 20-year-old Dion Conroy has also signed a new contract, with his deal running until 2018.