COURTOIS GOING BACK ON LOAN AT ATLETICO MADRID

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will spend a third successive season on loan with Atletico Madrid, the Liga outfit have confirmed.

The 21-year-old joined Chelsea in 2011 but has yet to make a first team appearances for the Blues, moving instead to Atleti initially as a short-term loan replacement for David De Gea.

The Belgium international has gone on to make 96 appearances for los Rojiblancos in all competitions, winning the Copda del Rey, Europa League and Super Cup in his two years at the club.

  A  statement on the club's official website read: "Thibaut Courtois will return to Atletico Madrid next season after an agreement was reached between our club and Chelsea for him to play on loan for another year."

Courtois is delighted to have extended his stay in the Spanish capital and is eagerly looking forward to competing in the Champions League next season.

"I am very happy because it was what I wanted," he said.

"I have always said that I wanted to continue at Atletico next season and take part in such an important competition as the Champions League after we qualified for it in such a brilliant way.

"I am only thinking about continuing to enjoy the incredible support that we have and I hope we can continue to bring them a lot of happiness."

The Belgian youngster, who joined Chelsea for a fee of around £4 million from Racing Genk, kept 20 clean sheets in La Liga last season, but was unlikely to usurp Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge.