CHERRIES have completed the loan signing of Chelsea utility man Nathan Ake.

The 21-year-old Dutchman joins on a season-long deal similar to the one he enjoyed at Watford during last season.

Predominantly featuring at left-back, Ake impressed in making 24 starts and four substitute appearances for the Hornets and was voted young player of the year.

He is said to be equally comfortable in a defensive-midfield role and earned praise for his performances when asked to shift across to centre-half, particularly against champions Leicester, while at Watford.

Ake was recruited by Chelsea at the age of 15 from Feyenoord in 2010, a move that fuelled the row over English powerhouses pinching Europe’s hottest prospects.

Aged 17, he was handed his Premier League debut by Rafa Benitez in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Norwich on Boxing Day 2012 and featured in the FA Cup and Champions League before playing 90 minutes in their final game of the season against Everton.

Ake’s opportunities were limited under Jose Mourinho and he spent a month on loan at Reading towards the end of the 2014-15 season, playing in midfield as Cherries won 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium en route to the Championship title.

Having linked up with Watford, he had to wait until September for his league bow and played at left-back in both matches against Cherries.

The signing means Cherries have used one of their two permitted domestic loans for the 2016-17 campaign.