Kalidou Koulibaly, a top defender for Senegal and Napoli, has landed in London to finish his medical before his £34 million transfer to former European Champions Chelsea.
After Raheem Sterling, who cost the Blues £50 million from Manchester City, Koulibaly is expected to be the club’s second acquisition of the summer.
The center-back took a private plane from Milan’s Linate Airport with his agent Fali Ramadani and arrived in London on Wednesday night.
The Senegal international is anticipated to undergo his physical today before signing a five-year contract for £300,000 per week with the possibility of an additional year.
If everything goes according to plan, the 31-year-old will have to finish all of his paperwork before departing for the US to join his new teammates for preseason.
Whether the Senegalese star meets Thomas Tuchel and the rest of the team in Los Angeles or Las Vegas will need to be decided.
When the West Londoners play Club America on Saturday in Las Vegas, Koulibaly might make his debut.
The former Genk star joins Chelsea’s weakened defense after Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger left for Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.
Marcos Alonso and Captain Cesar Azpilicueta might possibly go this summer.
Jules Kounde of Sevilla and Presnel Kimpembe of Paris Saint-Germain remain targets for Tuchel’s team.
In 2014, Koulibaly moved from Genk to Napoli and soon cemented his position as a crucial player at the back.
In 317 games across all competitions with the Partenopei, the defender totaled 14 goals and 8 assists.