Bertrand signs long-term Saints deal

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Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand has converted his loan move to Southampton into a permanent deal.

The 25-year-old signed a four-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee as Monday’s transfer deadline was about to pass.

Bertrand, who signed a five-year Blues deal in 2012, moved to St. Mary’s in the summer initially on a season-long loan and has impressed during his 27 appearances for Southampton.

He was with Chelsea for almost a decade, having been signed from Gillingham shortly before his 16th birthday.

After spells on loan at Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading and Nottingham Forest, he eventually made his Blues first-team debut in April 2011.

Just over a year later he was a surprise starter in the Champions League final win over Bayern Munich but couldn’t dislodge Ashley Cole from the team on a regular basis.

Seeking more first-team football, he spent the latter half of last season with Aston Villa before joining Southampton ahead of the current campaign.

In total, Bertrand made 57 Chelsea appearances, his last coming in the League Cup win over Arsenal in October 2013.

Earlier on transfer deadline day, Andre Schurrle signed for Wolfsburg while Mohamed Salah joined Fiorentina on loan until the end of the season.

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