Ola Aina
Aina played for the Blues first-team during their pre-season campaign last year but is yet to make his full debut Getty

KEY POINTS

  • 19-year-old full-back Aina extends contract until 2020.
  • Defender had previously been linked with a move to Celtic.
  • Boga follows Charly Musonda on season loan spell in Spain.

Chelsea have handed a new four-year contract to full-back Ola Aina while promising forward Jeremie Boga has joined Spanish club Granada on loan until the end of the season.

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Aina, 19, has played an important role in Chelsea's dominance of youth football in recent years and is regarded as one of the best defensive prospects to emerge from the club's academy. But having still to make his debut for the club, the full-back has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge with Brendan Rodgers' Celtic and Southampton among the interested parties.

Aina has brought an end to that speculation however and has signed a new deal that ties him to the club until 2020.

Signing a new deal is always a blessing, especially at a big club like this," Aina told Chelsea TV after signing. "I am happy and I need to hit the ground running again.

"As a player, I think I have got better and better because of the level of coaching in the academy and with the first team and as a person, the whole environment has helped me mature well.

"The club is close to my heart, they have helped me a lot and I am really thankful for that. It is a good moment for me."

Aina will join the first-team on their pre-season trip to the United States and hopes to impress incoming manager Antonio Conte ahead of the new campaign.

Jeremie Boga
Boga spent last season on loan with Rennes in France Getty

Boga meanwhile becomes the latest Blues youngster to leave on loan, having followed Charly Musonda to La Liga for the forthcoming season. The 19-year-old signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge last summer before returning to his native France to join Rennes on loan.

The Ligue 1 club were hopeful of retaining the attacking midfielder but Granada, who finished 16<sup>th in La Liga last season, have secured his signature.

"I am very excited to start working with Granada and to play in the Spanish league," Boga told Granada's official website on his arrival. "I hope to help the team as much as possible and to continue growing as a player and enjoy the new project of Granada."

He is the latest of Chelsea's promising youngsters to leave on loan with Nathan Ake (Bournemouth), Musonda (Real Betis) Lewis Baker and Nathan (both Vitesse Arnhem) having already left.

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