Academy: Blackman Signs new deal

Today has seen a Chelsea youngster sign a new contract which is the first of this close season. The player that has signed up is 20 year old keeper Jamal Blackman who is now signed up until 2019.

Blackman's future was one that was very much unclear. Having spent this season as third choice keeper for the first team without making a start it has been a season with little game time and it was not wholly clear where his future would lie.

He did in the latter part of the season make some appearances for the U21's team which was good for him and in the end throughout the season he made 13 appearances for the U21's which is OK but never really enough games for a player of his age. It is harder for goalkeepers to breakthrough and even to get the loan moves that can move their development forward, to get a loan in the championship for example is incredibly hard.

Ideally young Jamal will get a loan move next season and with Mitchell Beeney stepping up into the first team squad it may have been making the first moves to see Blackman playing elsewhere next season.

Blackman is a good young keeper who needs to move on a level and it is good to see club put some faith in his future with this new deal.

Keep an eye on Blackman's progress next season right here.