Essien, 33, is currently a free agent after leaving Panathinaikos earlier this year and the Herald Sun reports he is set to join Victory as their guest marquee.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has approved their request for Essien to be a guest marquee, previously only allowed for Melbourne City’s capture of Tim Cahill.

Victory only now needs to agree personal terms with the Ghanaian to complete the deal.

“FFA has had an approach from a A-League club in relation to using a portion of the Marquee Guest Fund to bring Michael Essien to the A-League as a Full Season Guest Marquee Player,” FFA CEO David Gallop told the Herald Sun.

“Michael Essien has had a tremendous domestic and international career, which qualifies him for a position on a Player Roster as a Full Season Guest Marquee Player and we have come to an agreed financial contribution if a club was to come to an agreement.’’

The FFA previously rejected Victory’s guest marquee bid for Italian striker Alessandro Diamanti.