Everton have agreed a fee with Barcelona of just over £22m for Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes.
Contracts have still to be signed but the Blues hope the paperwork can be completed in the next 24 hours.
The move constitutes a remarkable piece of transfer business by the Blues for a 25-year-old who cost Barca 35m euros from Valencia three years ago, with a potential further 20m euros in add ons.
The Nou Camp switch never worked out for a midfielder who had just guided Portugal to Euro 2016 success - with one of the unfulfilled add-on clauses being if Gomes ranked among the top 10 in the Ballon d'Or shortlist.
But while his spell in Catalunya was frustrating, Gomes has flourished on Merseyside.
He made 29 appearances last season despite only making his debut in late October and became an influential performer alongside Idrissa Gana Gueye, attracting interest in England from Tottenham and West Ham.
With personal terms already agreed, Everton look like announcing their second signing of the summer very soon, following the capture of free agent Jonas Lossl.
