Chelsea have
confirmed a deal
has been agreed to sign attacking midfielder Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala, subject to a work permit hearing on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Brazilian was close to joining Tottenham after having a medical last Wednesday.
But it is understood the Blues
made their move
at around 18:00 BST on Thursday, with a fee and personal terms agreed within 24 hours.
Chelsea are believed to have agreed to pay £30m to the Russian club.
The transfer was made possible after Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich, whose fellow Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov owns
Anzhi, intervened.
Willian was expected to join Tottenham, but when the
Blues stepped in he felt the chance to play Champions League football
was too good to reject.
Sources close to the player said Chelsea have made enquiries or offers for his services in every transfer window since 2011.
Willian will become the Stamford Bridge club's third major summer acquisition following the arrivals of Germany forward
Andre Schurrle
and Netherlands midfielder
Marco van Ginkel.
On Friday Blues manager Jose Mourinho had indicated that Willian would choose Chelsea over Tottenham.
Willian joined Anzhi in January for a reported £30m
after five-and-a-half seasons with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, but he
became available
as the Russian club attempt to cut costs
after a change in strategy by their owner.
Tottenham had expected to break their transfer record and make
Willian their fifth major summer signing.
Willian's arrival at Stamford Bridge further
strengthens a squad full of attack-minded midfielders including Eden Hazard, Oscar, Kevin De Bruyne, Schurrle and Juan Mata, who Mourinho
insists will not be leaving.
Willian's world
- Full name: Willian Borges da Silva
- Born: 9 August 1988, Ribeirao Pires, Brazil
- Began his career in his homeland with Corinthians, moving to Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007
- Won four Ukrainian Premier League titles with Shakhtar, plus the 2009 Uefa Cup
- Was part of the Brazil Under-20 side who won the 2007 South American Youth Championships
- Made senior Brazil debut against Gabon in November 2011
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