Chelsea complete capture of £7.9m goalkeeper

Chelsea have signed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Genk on a five-year deal, the Belgian champions have announced.

Idt is reported that Chelsea have paid around €9 million (£7.9 million) for the signature of Courtois. Further claims suggest the 19-year-old Belgian will be loaned back to Genk, although Chelsea have yet to unveil the full details of the agreement.

Genk director Dirk Degraen said: "We received an enormous offer that gave us no choice but to let our goalkeeper leave. But I have mixed feelings about this transfer. Genk wanted Thibaut to stay a bit longer."

Courtois, who is tipped for a bright future, is happy to wait for his chance to shine at Stamford Bridge, with Petr Cech the club's long-standing No. 1.

He said: "Chelsea see me as the successor to Petr Cech. It won't happen in one or two years, but in three, four or five years. I can therefore work on my development in peace.