Chelsea signs 7th goalkeeper and it's a Belgian teenager

A transfer for the future

Chelsea has a new goalkeeper, and he's just 18 years old. The Blues have signed Belgian teenager Thibaut Courtois from Genk for a fee of £20 million.

Courtois is a highly-rated prospect and has been capped by Belgium at youth level. He is expected to challenge Petr Cech for the number one spot at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said: "Thibaut is a young player with great potential. We believe he can be a top goalkeeper for us in the future."

Courtois' impressive stats

• Has kept seven clean sheets in 13 appearances for Genk this season.
• Was named the best goalkeeper in the Belgian Pro League last season.
• Made his debut for Belgium's U21 team in 2011.

Courtois is the seventh goalkeeper to be signed by Chelsea in the last two years. The Blues have also brought in Mark Schwarzer, Ross Turnbull, Hilario, Jamal Blackman, Matej Delac and Eduardo in that time.

The signing of Courtois is a clear indication that Chelsea are planning for the future. The Blues are keen to find a long-term replacement for Cech, who is now 32 years old.

Courtois is expected to be part of Chelsea's squad for their pre-season tour of the United States. He could make his debut for the Blues in their friendly against Paris Saint-Germain on July 29.

Chelsea fans will be hoping that Courtois can make a big impact at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have not won a major trophy since 2012, and they will be hoping that Courtois can help them end that drought.