Chelsea’s Kalas joins Fulham on loan

Fulham have signed Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas on a season-long loan deal.

The 23-year-old spent the past 18 months on loan with Middlesbrough as they reached the Championship play-off final in 2014-15 and were then promoted as runners-up last season.

The Czech Republic international, who has won three caps for his country, joined the Blues in 2010 from hometown club Sigma Olomouc.

He first spent two years on loan at Dutch side Vitesse before making his Chelsea debut in a 2-0 League Cup win at Arsenal in October 2013.

His Premier League debut and first start for Chelsea came at Anfield later that season, with Kalas impressing at the heart of defence as the Blues won 2-0 – a victory which effectively cost Liverpool the title.

He joined FC Koln for the first half of the 2014-15 campaign, before switching to Middlesbrough for the rest of the season.

Kalas becomes Fulham’s fourth summer acquisition after striker Sone Aluko, midfielder Floyd Ayite and defender Michael Madl.