On his way: Gary Cahill, left, has agreed to join
Chelsea
Final act: Cahill scored the winner in his last game
for Bolton
Gary Cahill should finally become a Chelsea player
after his £7million move from Bolton was settled on Friday
night.
The England defender, aged 26, agreed to sign a £23m
contract that runs until 2017 after talks with Blues' chief
executive Ron Gourlay, who travelled north to break the
impasse.
He will put pen to paper on a five-year contract
worth believed to be worth £80,000 a week and could make his
debut at Norwich next Saturday.
Cahill will complete a medical at Chelsea's training
ground on Saturday, and presented to the Stamford Bridge crowd
before the Premier League game with Sunderland.
Cahill had spent two weeks stalling the deal and was
effectively accused by manager Andre Villas-Boas of wanting too
much money.
But he was also concerned about where he would fit in,
fearing if he did not play enough first-team football this season
he might lose his place in Fabio Capello's England squad for Euro
2012.
Partnership: Cahill has featured alongside Chelsea's
John Terry for England
But Gourlay convinced the player that he was the
first choice of Villas Boas to strengthen Chelsea's defence before
putting the pay deal - authorised by owner Roman Abramovich - on
the table.
Bolton feared they could lose the defender, who has seven
England caps, for nothing in the summer when his contract runs
out.
Boss Owen Coyle could also make a bid for Blackburn's
Junior Hoilett.