Portugal and Benfica midfielder Tiago Mendes has signed a four-year contract with Chelsea worth €12-million, daily newspaper Diario de Noticias reported in Lisbon on Friday.
The 23-year-old signed the contract, which can be extended for one more season, in London on Thursday and is expected be officially presented at Stamford Bridge later on Friday, the paper added.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said Thursday negotiations with Benfica for Tiago had ”taken a positive turn” and an agreement could be announced shortly.
Benfica had reportedly been demanding €15-million for Tiago, but agreed to drop the midfielder’s asking rate to €12-million.
Chelsea’s initial offers had been in the region of €10-million.
Tiago is under contract with Benfica until 2007 but is reportedly keen to leave because of differences with new chief Jose Veiga, who was once his manager.
He has scored 19 times since joining Benfica from Sporting Braga halfway through the 2001/2002 season and is a regular first-team choice. — Sapa-AFP