Skysports.com can confirm that Chelsea have all but sealed the signing of Asier Del Horno.
A Chelsea delegation are believed to have watched the 24-year-old play in action for Athletic Bilbao against Numancia on Sunday.
The Blues opened talks about Del Horno over the weekend and a deal is now in place.
"It should be finished in the next few days," Bilbao president Fernando Lamikitz told skysports.com.
It is believed Chelsea have struck a deal that will see them pay an initial fee of €14 million (£9.6 million) although further incentive based payments could see the deal increase by a further €2.5 million.
Del Horno is know to have been very keen to seal the move and some sources even suggest that the left back has waved his right to any proceeds from the transfer in order to smooth over the deal.
Chelsea will not be able to present Del Horno to the media until later next month, as the player is on international duty with Spain until June 9.
The news that a deal for Del Horno is almost complete means any interest Chelsea had in Arsenal's Ashley Cole has now almost certainly gone.
