Wolfsburg sign De Bruyne from Chelsea
Saturday, January 18, 2014
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Belgian international midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said he has joined "a great team with huge potential" after swapping Chelsea FC for VfL Wolfsburg on a five-and-a-half-year deal.
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VfL Wolfsburg have completed the signing of Belgian international midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a five-and-a-half-year contract from Chelsea FC.
De Bruyne, 22, has made just three Premier League appearances this term and featured as a late substitute on three occasions as Chelsea topped UEFA Champions League Group E. The 18-times capped Belgian international, who moved to England in summer 2012 after four seasons at KRC Genk, has Bundesliga experience having spent the 2012/13 campaign on loan at SV Werder Bremen.
"For me it was always clear that I would speak to Wolfsburg first once Chelsea gave me the approval. Klaus Allofs [the sporting director] and coach Dieter Hecking are building a great team with huge potential at Wolfsburg and I'd like to contribute to get them back into European competition."
Coach Hecking, whose side currently lie fifth in the Bundesliga and return to action after the winter break against Hannover 96 on 25 January, added: "By signing Kevin de Bruyne, we managed to boost the quality of our squad further. Kevin is a player with outstanding skills. I had a very good feeling about this transfer after our first conversation."
