Chelsea starlet Jeremie Boga signed new contract before sealing Rennes loan

Chelsea starlet Jeremie Boga signed a new contract with the Premier League champions lasting until 2019 before joining Ligue 1 side Rennes on loan this season, according to the player's agent. Boga, 18, was one of 33 players to leave Stamford Bridge on loan this summer, returning to his native France on the final day of the transfer window.

The young midfielder had hoped to make the step up to the first team alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but like the club's other FA Youth Cup winners Dominic Solanke and Izzy Brown, he has moved abroad for his starting XI chance. While he will spent the season playing at Roazhon Park, Chelsea would appear to have hopes of the player making the grade in London, having secured his long-term future before sanctioning the move.

Speaking to Foot Mecato, Boga's brother and representative Daniel Boga confirmed the youngster is now contracted to Chelsea until June 2019, adding: "Before discussing a loan, we always wanted to extend with Chelsea. It took a while but once we felt right, everything was okay."

Boga has previously wished for a return to Marseille, but according to his representative, Chelsea initially told the French giants the player was not available. Marseille would make another approach later in the window but failed to assure the Premier League champions their youngster would receive enough playing time at the Stade Veledrome.

"As for OM, they called Chelsea at the opening of the transfer window to know the position of the club for a loan," Daniel Boga added. "But the timing was not good and Chelsea told them he was not available. We also wanted to have guarantees on playing time, something that Marseille could not do."

Rennes sealed their loan move for Boga on the final day of the transfer window in France, claiming to have an option to purchase the player outright next summer. The clause has been met with scrutiny however, with Ouest-France claiming Rennes must pay €40m (£29m) to sign the Frenchman, a fee comfortably out of their price range.