Chelsea have agreed to sign teenage goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on a five-year deal from Genk.
Genk goalkeeper set to sign five-year Stamford Bridge deal
Chelsea have agreed to sign highly-rated teenage goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on a five-year deal from Genk.
Reports suggest that the Stamford Bridge outfit have invested €9million (£7.9million) to land the well-regarded 19-year-old from the Belgian champions.
Courtois, who has been compared to former Manchester United shot-stopper Edwin van der Sar, has been earning rave reviews for his performances in Belgium.
Genk admitted that they had little option but to let their last line of defence depart once the Blues made their intentions plain with a substantial bid.
"We received an enormous offer that gave us no choice but to let our goalkeeper leave," Genk director Dirk Degraen told a press conference.
"But I have mixed feelings about this transfer. Genk wanted Thibaut to stay a bit longer."
New Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas later confirmed that a deal had been reached over the shot-stopper.
Agreement
"There is an agreement between the two clubs," Villas-Boas said.
"It is also subject to personal agreements and from then we will decide what is best for him."
Asked whether Courtois could challenge for a first-team spot this season, Villas-Boas added: "Let's wait for him to agree terms.
"It seems unfair for me to make any comment on him but as soon as he is a Chelsea player we will see what kind of future he has."
Courtois, who has already been capped by his country despite his age, was under contract in his homeland until 2014 and does not expect immediate first-team action in West London.
"Chelsea see me as the successor to Petr Cech," he admitted recently.
"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."
