Swans sign Chelsea's Scott Sinclair on three-year deal
Scott Sinclair has spent time on loan at a number of clubs
Swansea could break their transfer fee record after signing ex-England youth star Scott Sinclair from Premier League champions Chelsea on a three-year deal.
The initial fee for Sinclair is £500,000 and could rise to £1m.
Swans boss Brendan Rodgers was Chelsea youth and reserve manager as Sinclair rose through the ranks.
"It's a massive coup for us because he is a big talent and has been a sought after player since he broke on to the scene," Rodgers told Swansea's website.
"As far as I am concerned, there's no better place for him than Swansea City.
"With this group of players, style of football, fantastic fans and a manager who knows him well, this will be a great club for his development.
"He is only 21 and still has big potential. I think this will be a good home for him, where he can come and play and realise that full potential because I know what he is capable of.
Hull 2-0 Swansea
"He is a great signing for the present and the future and joins a group of exciting young players that includes the likes Joe Allen, David Cotterill and Nathan Dyer.''
The add-ons that could make Sinclair the club's first £1m signing depend on how Swansea fare during Sinclair's stay.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said: "While everyone is aware that we run a tight ship here financially, we will always invest in the team when funds are available. I think this signing highlights our intent.
"It is also the club's priority to invest in bright, young talent wherever possible - and I don't think you will find many young players with the talent that Scott possesses.
"We have been fortunate that he has worked closely with Brendan in the past.
"Brendan was one of the attractions for Scott, but there was also the style of football we play and the fantastic playing surface we have here at the Liberty Stadium.
"I'm sure our supporters will be excited about Scott joining us and watching him perform in a Swans shirt.''
However, Sinclair cannot make his Carling Cup first round debut against Barnet on Tuesday when Swansea will bid to to bounce back from their opening day 2-0 Championship defeat at Hull.
The signing has yet to gain Football League and Premier League clearance.
Sinclair, who has spent time on loan at Wigan, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Charlton, QPR and Plymouth, was one of three players being targeted.
The Bath-born player, who has represented England at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, has been at Chelsea since 2005.
Swansea have already signed Wrexham left-back Neil Taylor and Aldershot midfielder Scott Donnelly this summer.
After their defeat at KC Stadium, Rodgers said: "Scott's a wonderful player."
Rodgers has also targeted ex-Dutch Under-21 international Kemy Agustien, a trialist injured in a Swans' pre-season game.
In an earlier interview, Rodgers said: "There's one or two things that we're looking at.
"This is a squad that isn't going to need major surgery as long as I keep the squad I want to keep here and then add just one or two to it."
We need to have that mutual ruthlessness in the opponents box
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers
Sinclair signed for Chelsea in November 2005 when a tribunal awarded Bristol Rovers compensation of up to a potential £750,000 - and the Premier League giants will also have to pay Bristol Rovers 15% of any sell-on profit.
Sinclair is renowned for scoring wonder goals and his individual half-the-length-of-the-field run and strike for Plymouth in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Barnet in 2007 is one of greatest recent cup goals.
Sinclair, who signed a four year deal at Chelsea in August 2007, scored his first senior goal at Hull in a 4-0 win against Hull in the Carling Cup and played five games for the top-flight giants.
Rodgers hopes Sinclair will help rectify Swansea's long-standing goal-scoring problems.
"We need to have that mutual ruthlessness in the opponents box," said Rodgers.
"It's an area we need to add to as strikers, but the wide players need to contribute to goals as well. We play some wonderful stuff - we just need to get that finishing touch."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?