Kurt Zouma Hoping to Follow John Terry's Example at Chelsea

Incoming Chelsea signing Kurt Zouma is hoping to replicate captain John Terry's impact at Stamford Bridge upon joining from St Etienne at the end of the season.

The 19 year old was one of three January transfer window signings made by Jose Mourinho along with Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah and will join the club in the summer after being loaned back to the Ligue 1 club for the remainder of the current campaign.

Zouma will bolster a Chelsea defence which is the best in the Premier League this season however faces stern competition for a regular starting spot with David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and skipper Terry all at Mourinho's disposal.

Terry's form has been among the most impressive facets of Chelsea's season after injury problems and marginalisation by internal first team coach Rafael Benitez last term saw his appearances restricted, and it's the standard set by the former England international which Zouma wants to reproduce.

"Terry? He's an emblematic Chelsea player, a great defender, physical, technical, who score goals too," Zouma told Canal+. "He is an example for me in my position.

"Hazard? He is top class. A great player. Eto'o is a great name, who has had a very, very big career. These players will never be forgotten."

The France Under-21 international is regarded as one of the brightest young defenders in European football but wasn't expected to join Chelsea until the summer.

But Mourinho revealed in January that the club were forced to sign Zouma or fear missing out on the youngster come the off-season.

"If we don't do it now, probably we can't do it in the summer because other clubs were also very strong on him," Mourinho admitted.

"So we did it, now he stay at St Etienne, pre-season he will join us. We will see if it is to stay or if it is to go on loan.

"He's another young player in the profile of some Chelsea signed in the last couple of years. He is a young player for a position where we also need for the future."