CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe revealed Nathan Ake’s versatility had been a key factor in swooping for the highly-rated Chelsea man.

Dutchman Ake yesterday became Cherries’ second summer signing when he joined on a season-long loan from the Londoners.

The 21-year-old spent last season in a similar capacity at Watford and played a starring role as the Hornets comfortably secured their Premier League status.

Predominantly featuring at left-back, Ake impressed during 24 starts and four substitute appearances in the top flight and was voted Watford’s young player of the year.

He started against Cherries in the 1-1 draw at Vitality Stadium in October and also during the 0-0 stalemate at Vicarage Road in February where he escaped unharmed after falling over an advertising hoarding.

Ake, who has made 12 appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup, also played against Cherries for Reading in the Championship while on loan to the Berkshire club in April 2015.

Recruited by Chelsea from Dutch club Feyenoord at the age of 15, Ake will join fellow new signing Emerson Hyndman and the rest of Howe’s squad when they return for the start of pre-season training on Saturday.

In his latest exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Howe said: “Nathan had a really good season with Watford and also caught the eye during his loan spell with Reading in the Championship.

“We have played against him three times in the past couple of seasons and he has performed very well in all three games.

“He was used predominantly at left-back by Watford and also played for them at centre-back. His favoured position is as a central midfielder.

“He is technically very good and is coming to us with a really good year of Premier League games under his belt so we are really excited at the prospect of working with him.

“We will look to develop his talent and will be keen to see how he fits into the talented squad we have.

“He really did excel for Watford and I think those experiences will benefit us during the coming season.”

Capped 20 times by the Netherlands at under-21 level, Ake has represented his country at every age group since making his debut as an under-15 and captained the under-17s and under-19s.

At 17, he was handed his Premier League debut by Rafa Benitez as a late substitute in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Norwich on Boxing Day 2012.

He was an unused sub in the 2013 Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam, which Chelsea won 2–1, and was voted as the club’s young player of the year in the same season.

Rewarded with a five-year contract in 2013, Ake received a Premier League’s winners’ medal at the insistence of Jose Mourinho despite featuring just once in Chelsea’s top-flight campaign in 2014-15.

His signing by Cherries can be reviewed by either club during the mid-season transfer window and is one of the Dorset outfit’s two permitted domestic loans for the new season.