Fulham have won the race to sign highly-rated defender Tomas Kalas from Chelsea on a season-long loan.

The 23-year-old impressed during a stint at Middlesbrough in 2015-16 and was expected to rejoin the Premier League side this coming campaign on a similar deal.

Kalas will not be returning to the North-East to prolong his 18-month spell, however, having instead agreed to stay in West London with Championship outfit Fulham, who he believes are about to turn around their fortunes following a few seasons of disappointment.

"When I was at Middlesbrough nobody expected us in the playoffs and we ended up in the playoffs," he told his new side's official website. "Nobody probably expects Fulham to be that high but, why not? After two bad seasons there should come a better one!"

Kalas, capped three times by the Czech Republic at international level, made 31 appearances for Middlesbrough last season.