Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the permanent signing of Kevin De Bruyne from KRC Genk.

The 20-year-old Belgian international joins compatriots Thibaut Courtois (currently on loan at Atletico Madrid) and Romelu Lukaku on the club's books, but will spend the rest of the 2011/12 season back on loan with Genk in the Jupiler League.

De Bruyne is a product of Racing Genk's academy, having signed as a 14-year-old after training with Gent from the age of 12. Now 20, he was born in Drongen in the north-west of Belgium on June 28, 1991.

He made his debut for Genk at the end of the 2008/09 season and by the next campaign was a regular in the side which finished in mid-table, contributing one goal, a winner against Standard Liege, in 24 outings.

Last season was one of huge personal and team success, as De Bruyne made his national team debut in August 2010, albeit a 1-0 loss in Finland, before helping Genk to the league championship.

During the campaign, the pacy left-winger contributed five goals and 16 assists in 22 games, and has taken that form into this season, one in which he has also faced Chelsea twice in the Champions League. Genk were beaten 5-0 at Stamford Bridge but earned a 1-1 draw in Belgium.

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i'm not 100% sure about this, he looks good and as a lot of a bility, but he's come to us, we dont really do a lot for youngsters

That's a big move, and a sign that this team philosophy is moving to AVB.

He's not good enough to improve the team right away, good last name tho..

He'll be a good signing. I trust Villas-Boas' judgment. Only 20 too so he'll improve a lot with our first class coaching staff and facilties.

Not too worried what his karaoke skills are like CW more interested in his footballing ones

I think he may have some potential over a period of time if he is given enough games but as you said Les we don't seem to be able to bring out the talent in these youngsters do we and unless we have a major change of policy under AVB then it may all be for nothing

it makes me wonder who is actually deciding which players are bought, if its the manager then all well and good, but avb did state that he didnt want de Bruyne
if someone else is deciding who we buy, what the point in having a manager?
a manager needs to have players who will work for him and fit into the style of play he wants to play, not someone telling the chairman he's good buy him regardless of waht the manager thinks
i think this is why we cant get a manager to settle, because he has no say in who is brought in

And then Abramovich will go and sack AVB. Hire another expensive coach. Sign players that coach doesn't want and fire that coach. Rinse and repeat.

AVB won't be sacked anytime soon, he's a top manager and i'm sure he'll come good at the end. Don't write Chelsea out of any competition yet, it's far too early.

I think that was why Mourinho walked in the end, he was not keen on the likes of Shevchenko being at the club and had no say in that transfer deal yet he was required to try and fit him in a side that was already doing well.

Like you say if it's not the manager making the signings then who is it??? either way it can't be a good policy that does not allow the manager to manage