CHERRIES chief executive Neill Blake says the club "fought off a lot of competition" to sign Spanish winger Rodrigo Riquelme.

The Atletico Madrid youngster has arrived at Cherries on a season-long loan deal, with the club having the option of making the deal permanent.

Riquelme, 20, had been training with fellow Championship outfit Reading for the past month, with the Royals one of a number of sides said to be interested in his signature.

Chief exec Blake told the Cherries website: "Rodrigo is someone we have been chasing for a long time, so I am delighted that our patience and persistence has paid off.

"He is an extremely talented player who has appeared for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and will complement the quality that is already in our squad.

"In recent years we have looked to sign some of the brightest young players around, and having fought off a lot of competition for Rodrigo, we believe we have captured another one."

Cherries boss Jason Tindall added: "It is great to have a new signing on board and especially someone of Rodrigo’s quality.

“I have made it very clear that we will only sign players who can improve our squad and we have now done that.

“This football club has been synonymous with impactful wingers over the years, and Rodrigo fits that bill perfectly.

“He is a creative, exciting talent who I cannot wait to start working with.”

Riquelme could make his Cherries debut at St Andrew's against Coventry City tomorrow (7.45pm).