Fulham have completed a deal to take the Chelsea centre back Tomas Kalas on a season-long loan.

The Czech defender spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough helping Aitor Karanka’s side win promotion via the play-offs. The 23 year-old had been linked to a permanent move to the Riverside this summer, but instead will link up with Jokanovic at Fulham and believes the Whites can match Boro’s success in the coming season.

“Promotion or at least the play offs,” Kalas told Fulham’s official website when asked what he hoped to achieve after signing. “When I was at Middlesbrough nobody expected us in the play-offs and we ended up in the play offs. Nobody probably expects Fulham to be that high but, why not? After two bad seasons there should come a better one!”

Kalas joined Chelsea in 2011 from Sigma Olomouc but has made just four first-team appearances in five years at Stamford Bridge. He has spent time on loan with Koln and Middlesbrough and will now become a key part of a reshaped Fulham defence after the Whites conceded 79 goals in the Championship last term.