New Blues deal for Bertrand

Chelsea man handed long-term contract until 2017

Chelsea have announced that Ryan Bertrand has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract to commit his future to the club until 2017.

Bertrand has been with the Blues since 2005 and has always been regarded as an exciting prospect, but he has had to wait patiently for first-team opportunities.

The presence of Ashley Cole at left-back has allowed him to develop away from the limelight at Stamford Bridge, with loan spells taken in at several lower league clubs.

As well as playing for Chelsea's youth and reserve teams, Bertrand has spent time out at Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading and Nottingham Forest.

Big break

He eventually made his Chelsea debut as a substitute against Birmingham in April 2011, and gradually became more involved last season.

Bertrand, now 23, got his big break at the Allianz Arena in May when he was selected from the start in the victorious UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

He operated in a more advanced role in front of Cole and Roberto Di Matteo has clearly been impressed by his progression, as he has continued to pick the 23-year-old as an attacking option at the start of the current campaign.

Bertrand also played for Great Britain at the Olympics and has now been rewarded for all his good work with a new deal that ties him into Chelsea's long-term project.