Chelsea secure Porto defender

2008-05-12 15:44

London - Chelsea are close to signing Portugal right-back Jose Bosingwa after Porto announced they have accepted the Premiership club's 16.2 million pound offer.

Bosingwa, 25, has flown to London with his agent Jorge Mendes for contract talks and a medical and the transfer could be completed in the next 48 hours.

After missing out on the English title to Manchester United on Sunday, Chelsea have gained a small measure of revenge by beating United in the race to sign Bosingwa, who also attracted interest from Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Juliano Belletti's brief stay at Stamford Bridge could be ended by Bosingwa's imminent arrival after a series of mediocre performances from the Brazilian.

Bosingwa was born in Congo but moved to Portugal with his parents when he was a child. His performances for Boavista convinced Jose Mourinho to sign him for Porto in 2003 and he has helped continue the club's domestic dominance as well as winning six caps for Portugal.

Porto announced a deal was done in a statement to the Portuguese Stock Exchange: "We inform the market that we have an understanding with Chelsea for the rights to our player Jose Bosingwa for the price of 20.5 million euros.

"More information on the relative agreement of the transfer will be legalised once the player concludes the medical examinations that he is now having with the permission of Porto football club."

- AFP