Chelsea make ANOTHER signing as Blues confirm £12m arrival of Portuguese youngster Renato Veiga from Basel on a seven-year deal

Chelsea have announced the £12m capture of relatively unknown Portuguese talent Renato Veiga who has signed a seven-year contract at the club with an option of a further 12 months.

The Blues have been criticised for their targeted recruitment of young players as they gamble on potential, but show no signs of changing that approach under new manager Enzo Maresca.

Veiga has completed his move from Swiss side Basel where he impressed during his signle season at the club after previously joining from Sporting Lisbon.

The 20-year-old spent the majority of his boyhood career in Sporting's youth ranks before later being loaned out to Bundesliga team Augsburg and then sold to Basel.

Chelsea had been considering a move for the unproven talent after a breakthrough season saw Veiga make 26 appearances in all competitions for Basel and score two goals.

Veiga can also play at left-back and midfield. He was signed by Basel last summer as a replacement for Riccardo Calafiori, the Italy international, who they sold to Bologna. 

He will now join up with the club's first-team ahead of their upcoming pre-season tour of the United States with it yet to be seen if he will be given a chance in the Premier League next season.

The midfielder is the son of former Cape Verde international footballer Nelson Veiga and has enjoyed a prominent rise in senior football ever since making his debut in Portugal's Serie B five years ago.

Veiga is delighted to have completed his transfer to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea attempt to recover from another difficult campaign that saw Mauricio Pochettino have his position mutually terminated.

Speaking on his move, Veiga told the club's official website: 'I'm absolutely buzzing to be here.

‘This is one of the biggest clubs in England – the biggest for me – and I’m just really excited to get started.’