Alves expected to join Chelsea

Sevilla's right-back Daniel Alves is expected to become a Chelsea player today.

The Brazilian international has already agreed terms and will move to Stamford Bridge in a deal that should be worth in excess of €30m.

Chelsea have beaten off competition from Real Madrid for the Brazilian, although the capture of Alves may well pave the way for Real to complete the signing of Arjen Robben, for whom the Spanish club have offered €30m.

Representatives from Chelsea met Sevilla's director-general José María Cruz in Madrid last night in an attempt to finalise the deal for Alves.

Sevilla president José María del Nido verbally agreed to allow the player to leave this summer if Sevilla received an offer that was "right" for both parties and with Alves revealing he wanted a move, all that remained was for a fee to be agreed.

"I want to continue growing as a player and if that has to be somewhere else, then it will be somewhere else," Alves said.

Yesterday, Alves was omitted from Sevilla's squad to face AEK Athens in the Champions League qualifier to ensure he is not cup-tied when he joins Chelsea.

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos said the decision to pull out of the squad came not from the club but from the player.

"Dani told me he was not in the right frame of mind to play," said Ramos, "I cannot handcuff someone and force them to come to work."