Leicester City sign versatile defender Timothy Castagne from Atalanta for £21.5m

The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the club

Timothy Castagne is currently away with Belgium on international duty (Getty)

Leicester City have signed Belgian international Timothy Castagne from Atalanta on a five-year contract in a transfer worth £21.5m.

The 24-year-old brings much-needed reinforcement to the full-back positions after the £50m sale of first-choice left-back Ben Chilwell to Chelsea last month and the injury to first-choice right-back Ricardo Pereira which is set to keep him out of the opening games of the new season.

Castagne is right footed and spent last season playing at right wing-back, but spent much of Atalanta’s 2018-19 campaign on the left side where he is equally adept, helping the Serie A club qualify for the Champions League both years.

The defender began his career with Genk before moving to Atalanta in 2017, where he went on to play 96 games, scoring eight goals.

He will join up with his new teammates after completing Nations League duty with Belgium. Leicester’s season begins on Sunday 13 September at newly promoted West Bromwich Albion.