Chelsea land Ramires

Wednesday, 04/08/2010

Chelsea target Ramires will join the club before the end of the week.

As we told you last week, the Brazil midfielder was top of manager Carlo Ancelotti's shortlist and the 23-year-old is in the country for medical tests ahead of the move.

Adept on the right-hand side of a diamond or in a holding role, Ramires will arrive for a fee of around £17m.

The former Cruzeiro midfielder arrived at current club Benfica last summer for just over £6m, and helped them to a domestic double as well as the Europa League quarter finals.

* Five things you didn't know about Ramires...

1. He's been a title winner with every club he's signed for, winning two titles each with Joinville and Cruzeiro, before last season's success with Benfica.

2. He's also tasted international success, winning the 2009 Confederations Cup with Brazil.

3. Ramires is an Olympian. He was part of the bronze medal winning team in 2008.

4. While plying his trade in Brazil, Ramires was dubbed 'the Blue Kenyan'. This was taken from Cruzeiro's kit (blue) and his high fitness levels, earning comparisons to impressive Kenyan athletes.

5. He scored his first Brazil goals in a friendly against Tanzania. He grabbed a brace in a 5-1 win in the build-up to the summer's World Cup.

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