Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Levi Colwill is staying this season.
The defender has ruled out a return to Brighton, where he spent last term on-loan.
Pochettino said: "I was clear with him. One of the things we were talking about was for him to have the possibility to compete with different team-mates, about deserving to play and for sure if he deserves to play he is going to play.
"Of course there is the possibility to play. Because Ben [Badiashile] is injured his chances are higher because he is a left-footed centre back. He will compete with Ben.
"There are different types of combinations that can happen. He needs to show he is ready to play and deserves to play."