Bertrand Traore to Ajax: Latest Loan Details, Comments and Reaction

Forward Bertrand Traore headed out on loan to Dutch side Ajax after agreeing to a new three-year contract with Chelsea on Friday.

The Blues announced the news on their official website and confirmed he'll spend his second full campaign in the Eredivisie after playing the 2014-15 season on loan with Vitesse Arnhem.

The 20-year-old showcased plenty of potential en route to 14 goals in 33 league appearances for the Vitas two seasons ago. It represented serious progress after finding the net just three times in 15 games for the club during a shorter stint in the 2013-14 campaign.

The Burkina Faso international struggled to find a consistent role with Chelsea last term, though. He made just 16 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals in the process. So the club has opted to find him a home where he should receive more regular starts.

Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press

His move comes after a pre-season where he was able to gain some experience playing alongside Diego Costa. He discussed that opportunity with the club's official website in July.

"Diego is one of the best strikers in the world so it's a pleasure as a young player to play beside him," Traore said. "I learnt a lot from him, I enjoyed it and there were some good combinations between the two of us which was nice."

Chelsea already have a crowded group of forwards, including Costa, Michy Batshuayi, Loic Remy and Pedro. So Traore would have been stuck in the same type of situation as last season in terms of getting on the pitch, making a loan the better option for his long-term outlook.

Getting a chance to join a Ajax squad that's won the Eredivisie a record 33 times should provide him with the proving ground to show Chelsea he warrants a key first-team role moving forward.

Traore should help fill the void left by Arkadiusz Milik, who netted 24 goals in all competitions last term before heading to Napoli.