The 23-year-old becomes Avram Grant's second signing of the transfer window following the $37million arrival of Nicolas Anelka last week.

Chelsea are understood to have paid close on $23million to Lokomotiv Moscow for the versatile player and a work permit has already been granted.

A statement from Chelsea confirmed: "Chelsea can confirm it has agreed terms with Lokomotiv Moscow for the transfer of Branislav Ivanovic.

"A work permit application has also been successful for the player. The transfer is now subject to the agreement of personal terms and passing of the medical."

Ivanovic can play anywhere in defence and won his first senior cap for Serbia and Montenegro in June 2006 in a friendly against Italy which ended 1-1.

* EVERTON have completed the signing of Plymouth starlet Dan Gosling in a deal which could see the Coca-Cola Championship side bank a club-record fee of £2million.

COLCHESTER are still attempting to tie up personal terms with WALSALL defender Daniel Fox after agreeing a fee with the League One club.


MILLWALL have completed the signing of defender Marcus Bignot from QPR on an 18-month contract.

Midfielder Teddy Bjarnason has completed a permanent move from CELTIC to Norwegian side LYN OSLO.

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT have signed Brazilian midfielder Caio on a four-year deal, subject to a medical.

RUSSIA striker Andrei Arshavin has been linked with a move to Tottenham or Arsenal after his agent confirmed he is attracting interest from a trio of western European clubs.

Spartak Moscow defender Antonio Geder has joined French club LE MANS on a two-and-a-half year deal.

BORO were on Tuesday working to thrash out an agreement with Heerenveen as they stepped up their pursuit of Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.

INTER have signed Portugal midfielder Maniche on a six-month loan deal from Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

SUNDERLAND have completed the signing of French centre-back Jean-Yves Mvoto from Paris St-Germain.

PARMA have boosted their forward line by signing Italy international Cristiano Lucarelli from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Dutch Football Association have given the green light to Stefan Postma's transfer to QPR.

GILLINGHAM manager Mark Stimson has rejected suggestions a deal has already been done with Arsenal for 15-year-old Luke Freeman, but accepts the youngster looks set to join the Gunners.

Iceland right-back Gretar Steinsson is poised to complete a move to Bolton from Dutch side AZ ALKMAAR for a fee reported to be around $7million.

AJAX are prepared to sell midfielder Hedwiges Maduro in the transfer window.

Bayern Munich defender Daniel van Buyten would consider a loan move to CELTIC.

Urawa Reds midfielder Makoto Hasebe is on the verge of joining Bundesliga side VFL WOLFSBURG, according to reports in Japan.