Chelsea loan keeper Thibaut Courtois to Atletico Madrid
- Published
Courtois helped Genk win the Belgian title last season
Chelsea have signed Genk goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for an undisclosed fee and immediately loaned the Belgian to Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
Courtois, 19, signed a five-year contract with Chelsea as he made the move from Belgian champions.
He will spend the forthcoming season, at least, with Atletico.
"I would like to stay here," he said. "I want to focus on having a good season and then it would be great to stay two or three years here."
Courtois impressed hugely last season, making 40 appearances in the Pro League and also receiving his first call-up to the senior Belgium squad.
Despite his immediate future lying in Spain, Courtois is committed to fighting for his place at Chelsea in years to come.
"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world at the moment and gave me the opportunity first to be loaned to another team and then to come back and maybe play there," he added.
"It will be a wonderful possibility to play for one of the best teams in the world.
"That is the reason why I chose Chelsea."
And Courtois is relishing the prospect of teaming up with the current Chelsea keeper Petr Cech in future.
"I am happy the other day that I could speak with Petr Cech and also I can play at the same club as him in the future because he is one of my idols," he added.
Courtois' loan spell at Atletico comes after David de Gea left the Spanish side to join Manchester United.