Real Madrid agree a deal to sign Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, with multiple outlets reporting that the transfer is close to completion and requires final paperwork. Sky Sports and The Athletic say Chelsea have agreed a sale to Real Madrid, while The Guardian and The Independent report the fee is around £52 million and the package can rise to about €60 million. The agreement is described as verbal or near-final, with expected completion scheduled for early next week.

Cucurella, a Spain left-back, has been at Chelsea for about four years. Several reports state he is preparing for international duty and will complete the move after the World Cup, with Real Madrid intending to finalize the transfer following that period.

One outlet also notes Cucurella had previously questioned parts of Chelsea’s setup, including comments made during the March international break, which may have contributed to the uncertainty around his future. The reports describe the situation as a transition from Chelsea to Real Madrid following the clubs’ agreement on terms.