Jake Clarke-Salter signs new Chelsea deal, joins Birmingham on loan

“The 21-year old’s Chelsea contract extension commits him to the club until at least 2022.”

Birmingham claimed they “beat off significant competition” from a handful of Championship clubs for Clarke-Salter.

Pep Clotet’s side have been in the market for a centre-back after former captain Michael Morrison left St Andrews following the end of his contract.

Clarke-Salter, who came through the youth ranks at Chelsea, has spent the previous three seasons out on loan with spells at Bristol Rovers and Sunderland followed by a year in Holland with Vitesse Arnhem.

Meanwhile, Birmingham striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has signed a two-year contract extension which ties him to the club until at least 2022.

The 30-year-old, who moved to St Andrew’s from Burnley in the summer of 2016, scored 14 goals last season and added an impressive 10 assists.