Teenage striker Gael Kakuta has committed his future to Chelsea by signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the West London club.
Young striker commits future to Chelsea
Teenage striker Gael Kakuta has committed his future to Chelsea by signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the West London club.
The young Frenchman's switch to Stamford Bridge from Lens in 2007 caused controversy with Fifa initially imposing a transfer ban on the Blues over the move, which was lifted on appeal.
Kakuta has made nine appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side this season, with five of those outings coming in the UEFA Champions League.
The 19-year-old's current contract was due to expire at the end of the season and he had been linked with a move away from the Premier League champions before earning the new terms.
And Kakuta has now set his sights on forcing his way into the starting XI on a more regular basis, although he faces stern competition from Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge.
Dream
Kakuta told the club's
official website: "Since I signed for Chelsea when I was 16 all I was thinking about was to get to the first team.
"Now I have been playing a few times with the first team and I have signed for four-and-a-half more years I have to make a way for myself into the starting 11, and make my dream come true.
"The manager said to me it is the right time to play and I think for me it is as well. It's my job to do my best and try to play more often and show the coach that I am good enough to play in the team.
"It is a dream when you are young to play in the Champions League and I hope I will play more games.
"It is always good to play with players with more experience, you learn quicker and to improve quicker is good for our development."
