Chelsea agree fee for Ramires

Benfica have tonight confirmed that they have reached an agreement to sell Ramires to Chelsea for €22m (£18.2m), subject to the midfielder passing a medical.

The deal will be completed once Ramires undergoes a medical and pens a contract with the Premier League champions, something which is expected to take place in the coming days.

The 23-year-old will become the second addition to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad following the arrival of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.

Benfica announced the deal with a statement on the website of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission.

It read: “Benfica, in compliance with Article 248, of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, hereby inform that they have reached a agreement in principle with Chelsea FC for the transfer, on a permanent basis, of the sporting and economic rights of the professional footballer Ramires Santos do Nascimento for the value of €22m.

“They also inform that the said transfer agreement will be formalised once the athlete completes the medical examinations which he will undergo, with the consent of Benfica, and it will be concluded with the signing of a contract of employment between the aforementioned athlete and Chelsea FC.”

Ramires joined the Portuguese giants last summer from Cruzeiro, in his homeland, penning a five-year contract with a release clause of €30m.

There were fears the deal could hit a stumbling block over third-party ownership, but those appear unfounded.

Kia Joorabchian, the football businessman who brought Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the Premier League, does not own any direct stake in Ramires.

Joorabchian helped to fund Benfica’s purchase of the hard-working Brazilian for around £6m last summer.

Like any bank loan, Joorabchian would expect to be repaid when the deal goes through with Chelsea but he has no direct input into the arrangement.