Chelsea sign striker Patrick Bamford from Nottingham Forest

The 18-year-old has penned a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge despite having made just two first-team appearances for Forest and will join the Blues' reserve squad.Nottingham Forest released a statement revealing they had offered the striker the biggest deal ever put forward by the club for a player his age, however this was not enough to keep the youngster at the City Ground.A statement on the club’s official website said: "Bamford's current Forest contract was due to expire this summer and despite being offered the most lucrative contract ever tabled by the Reds for a player of his age, his representatives had indicated he would not re-sign with the club. "He travelled south for talks earlier today after Forest agreed a fee with Chelsea, before completing the formalities of his switch to Stamford Bridge. The fee Forest have negotiated with Chelsea includes a sell-on clause.”Bamford caught the eye of the Chelsea scouts when scoring a hat-trick against the Blues in a youth-team friendly. He impressed further when netting five goals in an FA Youth Cup game against Wigan and a week later scored four against Southampton.The striker’s involvement in Forest’s FA Youth Cup games leaves him cup-tied for the Blues' upcoming fixture against West Ham in the competition.