Chelsea will complete the £6.7m signing of Kevin de Bruyne from Genk in the next 24 hours, with the winger to return to the Belgian club on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

De Bruyne, a long-standing target for the Londoners, is undergoing a medical today and will sign a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge. The 20-year-old featured for the Belgians against Chelsea in the Champions League this season and is cup-tied in the competition, with his new employers keen for him to benefit from further first-team action to speed his development. He is also expected to be loaned out to another club, most likely not in Belgium, next season.

André Villas-Boas confirmed last week that De Bruyne, a full Belgium international, had been targeted prior to his own arrival at the club last summer, with his signing reflective of Chelsea's established drive to recruit the most promising young talent on the continent. The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, who is currently on loan at Atlético Madrid and could remain there next term, have also joined from Belgian football. "Kevin's a target that was decided by the club, that I knew about for quite some time," said the Portuguese. "He was under the scrutiny of the club for some time and we've been following this player.

"Romelu Lukaku was the same, and Petr Cech was the same when I arrived in 2004 [as part of José Mourinho's backroom staff]. In the sense that the club policy for the future, it's the right thing [to buy him] and I'll do everything in my power for him to reach maximum potential. But his purchase is down to the club in decision-making, not to me.

"This player, this specific case, is like Lukaku and Cech and part of a long-term policy. It paid off with Cech. Lukaku will eventually pay off in the future given the talent he has. We're trying to get young players and the right players at the right age. I have to raise their potential. Hopefully I can do that, as a professional at the club. I can promote talent through the club."