Despite all of the promise of Chelsea's youth team, few of our lovely little prospects will ever make it to the status of first team regular with the club. That's no slight on them - merely a reflection that Chelsea are a very very good side that also have enough money that means unless a youth player is truly excellent they'll be supplanted by expensive imports. One of the few players coming out of the ranks with enough potential to break that mould is BIlly Clifford, and there's some good news on that front. On the off chance that you didn't read the title, I'll let Billy tell you what's up:
Just put pen to paper on a new four year deal that will take me up to 2015 excited about the future. #cfcless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® 
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billy clifford
Bclifford47
Like I said, it's good news. We've had several young players signing new deals recently, including Josh McEachran, so signing the most promising youth teamers to long-term contracts is clearly part of the grand Chelsea plan to make us not old and decrepit. Clifford, of course, is a do-it-all midfielder who could pop up anywhere from bossing the middle to right back, and he made quite the impression during Chelsea's Asian pre-season tour following his recovery from a knee injury.
Hopefully Clifford gets a chance for some action this year, whether that's with the Blues or by his going out on loan this January. With this new deal, he'll get his chance no matter what.