Chelsea are close to securing the signing of PSV Eindhoven’s highly-rated left winger Arjen Robben for £13.5m.

The 20-year-old underwent a medical in London yesterday and should move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The transfer srepresets something of a coup for Chelsea because Manchester United were believed to be in pole position to sign the Dutch international and had even conducted talks with the utch international.

However, a statement on Chelsea’s official website last night read: “Chelsea can confirm that we are in negotiations with PSV Eindhoven for the purchase of their 20-year-old international striker Arjen Robben and that he is undergoing a medical with a view to signing.”

Robben, who joined PSV from Groningen in 2002, was named as Holland’s young player of the year and he is excited at the prospect of moving to Chelsea, despite appearing in January to have his heart set on United.

“I think that I can become a better player at Chelsea and that I can develop myself into a top European player,” he said.

PSV spokesman, Pedro Salazar Hewitt, admitted that the club’s technical director Frank Arnesen and legal adviser Peter Fossen were in London with Robben and that talks were at an advanced stage.

The player is the first signed by new chief executive Peter Kenyon.