John Obi Mikel is now set to complete a switch to Tianjin TEDA on a reported £140,000-per-week deal.
The Nigeria captain was reluctant to move to the Chinese League as he looked for a move that was best for him and his family, but he became convinced after talks in London with the CSL side.
Mikel has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge since Italian Antonio Conte took the reins last summer, with the likes of Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante preferred in the central midfield positions.
The Chinese Super League outfit has beaten competition from European sides Marseille and Valencia, with the deal expected to be formally announced early next week upon completion of medicals.
Mikel, 29, has only six months left on his current Chelsea deal and has been allowed to talk to clubs since December, with the Blues willing to let their second-longest-serving player go for free after over 10 years at the club.
