Real Madrid have announced the signing of the midfielder Lucas Silva on a long-term deal from the Brazilian side Cruzeiro for a fee believed to be around €14m (£10.5m).
Silva, whose contract with the club is reported to be for six and a half years, will undergo a medical and be officially presented by the club early next week.
The Brazilian will be the second player to arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu in the January transfer window after Real secured the signature of the much sought after Norwegian teenager, Martin Odegaard.
Silva had been linked with Real since August, with the Madrid side looking for a replacement for Xabi Alonso, after the Spanish midfielder joined Bayern Munich last summer. Silva had also been linked with a number of Premier League sides, including Arsenal.
