Bristol City sign Tomas Kalas on loan from Chelsea

Bristol City have confirmed the signature of defender Tomas Kalas on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Kalas, 25, has been with the Blues since 2010, but has only ever made four first-team appearances.

The Czech Republic international spent each of the last two seasons on loan with Fulham in the Championship, and has now returned to the second tier with Bristol on a deal until the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

"Tomas's signing shows the ambition that Bristol City have because there was a lot of interest and we beat a number of Championship and top European clubs to get him," manager Lee Johnson told the club's official website.

"The experience Tomas brings to this football club will be invaluable and I am really looking forward to working with him. He has already proven himself at Championship level and I have no doubts that he can help us in our bid to reach new heights."

Kalas, who helped Fulham to promotion last term, added: "It would be nice to keep on going that way and at least get into the play-offs with Bristol City and try and get promoted.

"I'm very excited to get my situation sorted and join a club that is willing to play football. When I was at Fulham we met teams like Bristol City so I am glad that I am joining a club who want to play football and not just kick long balls."

Kalas has also previously turned out for Middlesbrough in the second tier of English football.