• Premier League

Chelsea have Luiz bid accepted

ESPN staff
January 31, 2011
Benfica have accepted a late Chelsea bid for David Luiz © PA Photos
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Chelsea have had a bid accepted from Benfica for defender David Luiz, as they race to complete the deal before the transfer window closes.

A deal for the cultured Brazilian centre-back looked to be off when the Portuguese champions pulled the plug last week, but a last-ditch offer from the Premier League champion appears to have now done the job.

Chelsea will reportedly pay around £17 million up front for Luiz, with a further £4.5m to follow in instalments and incentives. In addition, Benfica will also take Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic - currently on loan at Dutch side Vitesse - in part-exchange.

Luiz was due to fly to London to complete negotiations, but will now arrange personal terms and fulfill the relevant formalities from Portugal in order to beat Monday's 11pm transfer deadline.

Luiz will become the second Benfica player to make the move to West London in just six months, after midfielder Ramires made the same switch in the summer. Matic will move to the Estadio da Luz at the end of the season after his current loan concludes.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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