Chelsea's
Nathan Ake has signed a new five-year contract but will spend the season on
loan at Watford.
The versatile 20-year-old can play in midfield or defence and becomes
Watford's 11th signing of the summer.
He arrived at Stamford Bridge in July 2011 and lifted the FA Youth Cup in
his first season, before winning the club's Young Player of the Year award
for 2012-13.
First-team appearances have, however, proven few and far between for the
Dutchman, who has featured just 12 times for Chelsea, including a substitute
appearance against Watford in the FA Cup in January.
Ake spent a month on loan at Reading in March and played five times for the
Royals in the Championship.
Watford have already added 10 players in this transfer window and are close
to signing former West Ham forward Alessandro Diamanti, who has been
training with the club.
Ake has also represented the Netherlands at every youth level, and captained
the U17 and U19 sides.
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