Aston Villa reached a deal to sign midfielder Steve Sidwell from Chelsea Wednesday, providing he passes a medical, the dpa reported.
Personal terms have been settled, after the clubs agreed a five million-pound (10 million-dollar) fee.
"Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea's former England Under-21 midfielder Steve Sidwell, subject to a medical," a Villa statement said.
The arrival of the former Reading player will go some way to filling the gap left by the expected departure of Gareth Barry to Liverpool.