Josh McEachran heads to Swansea City

Swansea have signed highly-rated Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran on loan for the rest of the season.

The 18-year-old travelled to south Wales on Monday night and trained with his new team-mates on Tuesday, with the move ratified by the Premier League on Tuesday afternoon.

McEachran, who joined Chelsea at the age of eight, revealed he chose Swansea ahead of other Premier League clubs, saying: "I'm delighted to be here.

"I wanted to come earlier but Chelsea had a few injuries and things. There was interest from a number of other Premier League clubs but I wanted to come to Swansea because of the style of football they play. I think it will suit me."

McEachran made his first-team debut for Chelsea in a Champions League clash with MSK Zilina in September 2010, becoming the first player younger than the competition itself to appear in it.

He continued to impress last season, making a number of appearances in the Barclays Premier League, and also became a regular for the England Under-21 side.

He signed a five-year contract with Chelsea in the summer but his opportunities under new manager Andre Villas-Boas have been limited, and he revealed the chance to play under Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers was a major factor in his decision.

He added on swanseacity.net: "The manager also had a big impact on my decision. I've known him from his Chelsea days and I think he is a fantastic manager.

"He's got the team playing well. I watched the Arsenal game on TV and they did really, really well. It's hard to believe that nine years ago Swansea were bottom of the entire Football League and Arsenal were top of the Premier League.

"It's a really young team and I think I will fit in well. I certainly hope so because I want to get a place in the team and play a lot more Premier League games."

Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Gunners at the Liberty Stadium was the latest in a string of impressive performances that have kept Swansea well away from danger without compromising their attractive passing style.

Rodgers, a former reserve team manager at Stamford Bridge, was delighted to finally get his man after being linked with the midfielder for some time.

The Northern Irishman said: "He's a player who see passes from the sky. He's an incredible passer of the ball and the Swansea fans will get to witness one of the best talents this country's got.

"I've got a really talented and gifted group of players at this level and he'll come into the squad and add to that. He'll give us that bit of strength for the second part of the season."

Meanwhile, Swansea today denied any club had made an inquiry for goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Dutch-based director John van Zweden had claimed Manchester United and Chelsea had contacted the Swans about Vorm, who has been one of the stand-out performers in the Premier League season.

But a Swansea spokesman told Press Association Sport: "We have not received any inquiries about Michel Vorm."

Holland international Vorm, 28, joined the promoted Swans from FC Utrecht for around £1.5million in August.

Having kept nine clean sheets in 21 games for his new club, he would doubtless command a much larger fee were he to be sold. But Swansea are desperate to keep hold of one of their prize assets.

Van Zweden told VI Radio: "Clubs have enquired about Vorm.

"Manchester United have asked, in addition Chelsea and, for that matter, Newcastle United. Tottenham Hotspur have cautiously announced they are interested. It would be a nightmare for us if he left."

The same would arguably be true were Swansea to lose Scott Sinclair and Joe Allen, both of whom have been linked with a move to Liverpool.