Chelsea have opted to send young defender Tomas Kalas back to Vitesse for another season of Eredivisie football, but extended his contract first.

 

The 19-year-old Czech Under-21 international spent the 2011/12 campaign on loan in Arnhem, making 28 appearances in the Dutch top flight as Vitesse recorded a seventh place finish.

 

But at the end of the season Kalas was recalled to Chelsea for a week-long assessment at the Champions League winners’ training base.

 

Now, after Roberto Di Matteo ran the rule over the 19-year-old, Kalas has been sent back to Holland to continue his footballing education.

 

Chelsea continue to rate the youngster highly and, while he was in London, signed him up to an extended contract running until 2017.

 

Kalas will benefit from Europa League football with Vitesse for 2012/13, while club coach Fred Rutten, who is now in charge in Arnhem, is expected to push the young Czech to the limit.

 

The defender joined Chelsea in 2010 from Sigma Olomouc for a fee of around £5M.

 

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