The 27-year-old will be reunited with former Foxes teammate N'Golo Kante after the pair starred in Leicester's shock title win in 2016.

Drinkwater has not played for Leicester this season due to a thigh injury but could be in line to make his Chelsea debut against his former club at the King Power Stadium on Sept. 9.

Leicester said in a statement they had received a club-record fee for Drinkwater, with reports indicating it is in the region of £35 million.

Drinkwater told his new club's website: "I'm delighted to be a Chelsea player and can't wait to get started.

"It has been a long journey to get here but I am very happy and am looking forward to helping the club win more trophies.''

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo added: "Danny is not only a Premier League winner but also has Champions League experience which will be invaluable for us this season.

"He is a typically combative English midfielder with a cultured passing technique and his arrival significantly strengthens our midfield options."

Earlier in the day, the Stamford Bridge club completed the signing of Italy international defender Davide Zappacosta from Torino in a deal reportedly worth around £23m.

The Serie A club confirmed the deal was done shortly after the transfer window closed on Thursday night.

Chelsea then confirmed the 25-year-old Zappacosta signed a four-year contract, becoming Chelsea's fifth signing of a difficult summer transfer window.

"It is a dream for me to join Chelsea and play in the Premier League," Zappacosta said in a statement. "I am very excited to be here and start working with the team. I hope I can show my quality to the coach, my teammates and the supporters."

The Premier League champions moved quickly to secure Zappacosta, who received his first international call-up during Antonio Conte's spell as Italy coach, after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rejected the chance to move to Stamford Bridge in favour of joining Liverpool.

Zappacosta will provide competition and cover for Victor Moses at right wing-back, while Brazilian youngster Kenedy -- who was initially poised to join Newcastle on loan -- is now expected to stay at Chelsea as an alternative to Marcos Alonso on the left in Conte's 3-4-3 system.

Technical director Michael Emenalo said: "Davide is a player of international calibre who Antonio Conte knows well and we have been aware of for some time. We are very pleased to be able to bring him to the club and believe he will become an important member of the squad."

Fernando Llorente, a long-term Conte target, was unveiled as a Tottenham player late on Thursday night after travelling to north London for a medical