Report: Chelsea defender Nathan Ake to join Middlesbrough

Championship side Middlesbrough will sign Chelsea academy player Nathan Ake on a season-long loan next season, according to reports.

The 20-year-old, who has already played 10 times for the Premier League champions, spent this campaign on loan at Reading.

The Daily Mail claims that Chelsea will continue to send their best young players out on loan in order for them to gain experience, and Ake will head north to play for Jose Mourinho's former assistant manager Aitor Karanka.

Ake will follow in the footsteps of Blues teammate Patrick Bamford, who scored 19 goals for Boro this year.