Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, the Blues have announced.

The 22-year-old spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid after joining the Blues from Genk in his native Belgium in July 2011.

But Courtois returned to Stamford Bridge this season and started the first three matches of the Premier League season ahead of Petr Cech before being rewarded with a new deal.

A statement on chelseafc.com read: "Chelsea Football Club is pleased to announce Thibaut Courtois has today signed a new five-year contract."

Courtois added: "I'm very happy with this new deal, it's really nice to have signed this new contract for five years.

"My future was already sorted but it's nice to know I'm going to be here for another five years and now I can just concentrate on playing games."

The news brings into doubt Cech's future at Stamford Bridge, with manager Jose Mourinho preferring Courtois at the start of the campaign.

The 32-year-old Czech Republic goalkeeper has faced unfamiliar circumstances this season, beginning the season on the substitutes' bench.

It is a situation reminiscent of when Cech was installed as number one ahead of the established Carlo Cudicini after his signing from Rennes in June 2004. That, too, was a decision made by Mourinho.

As reported by Standard Sport last month, Courtois had been stalling over a new deal until he was convinced he'd secured a starting place within Mourinho's side.

The Belgian has so far started all of Chelsea's three Premier League matches so far, with Cech having to make do with a place on the bench.

The Czech international has made 300 appearances for the club since his arrival from Rennes in 2004, and insisted last week that he would be staying at Stamford Bridge to fight for his place.

“I've been at the club for ten years, but the situation I am in is new to me," said Cech.

"The three opening matches I could not help the team but I have no reason to panic, pack up and leave. I am a Chelsea player, where I have two more years of contract. In football, nothing can be predicted in advance, nothing is ever perfect.”