The 19-year-old told Southend's official website: "I was a sub against Everton on the final day of the season and I also made the bench for a Champions League match against Rosenberg.

"Since then things haven't worked out as well as I would have hoped, but now I want to push my career on now.

"I have been playing for the reserves at Chelsea and I felt it was time to play some proper football.

"The Football League is a better standard when you are playing for three points every week. The standard will be tough physically but I need that to push my game on."