Manchester City and Chelsea FC have agreed to a £30 million ($38.1 million) deal to acquire midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to the PA news agency.
The treble winners are expected to pay £25 million upfront for the 29-year-old Croatia international, with a further £5 million in potential add-ons.
Kovacic, who joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2018, is entering the final year of his contract.
City will now attempt to finalise the procedures of the player’s transfer.
Kovacic is City’s first signing of the offseason, providing manager Pep Guardiola with extra midfield alternatives at a time when captain Ilkay Gündogan’s future is unknown.
Gündogan’s contract expires at the end of this month, and no new conditions have been agreed upon.
Kovacic, who has three Champions League titles with Real Madrid and one with Chelsea, might be one of several players to leave the London club as new manager Mauricio Pochettino reduces his team.
N’Golo Kanté, another midfielder, has already gone for Saudi Arabia.
dpa/NAN