Chelsea defender Ceasar Azpilicueta has committed his future to the London club on long term basis.

According to media channel ESPN, the Spanish international will remain at the Bridge until the summer of 2022.

Prior to the new deal, the defender had a deal that was to expire in the summer of 2020, but he has joined French international N’Golo Kante and countryman Marcos Alonso in committing himself to the Chelsea project.

Azpilicueta joined Chelsea from Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille in the summer of 2012 in deal valued at £7 million but has gone to be the consistent defenders at the club despite successive managerial changes and tactical alterations. The defender who was described by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as his “favorite footballer” has featured 298 times for the club in six years which have be characterized by trophy success such as 1 Europa League, 2 FA Cup, 1 League cup and 2 Premier League.

Meanwhile, Chelsea chiefs are still trying to persuade Eden Hazard to also put pen to paper with Real Madrid keen on taking the Belgian forward to the Bernabeu. Chelsea has brought an improved bid to keep the talented Belgian, but Eden Hazard is not in a rush to commit his future to the London based club.