Chelsea have won the race to sign Argentine hot-shot Franco Di Santo.

The Blues have agreed a deal worth $7million (£3.4million) with his club - Chilean outfit Audax Italiano, and the 18-year-old will move when the transfer windown opens in January.

Di Santo started his career in the youth side of Godoy Cruz de Mendoza - but he then opted to switch to Chile and he has since flourished with Audax.

From 35 starts he has bagged 13 goals in less than two seasons, and has also shone for Argentina's youth sides after he opted to play for the country of his birth rather than Chile - who also wanted him.

Now Chelsea have beaten a host of clubs from around Europe - to seal a deal for Di Santo - who is free to move to England as he holds an Italian passport.

Interest

Indeed Chelsea are understood to have held off competition from nine rival Premier League clubs - including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal - who all expressed an interest.

"Everything is nearly agreed, there are only a few details to be resolved but there will not be any problems," Audax president Valentin Cantergiani confirmed.

"We only have to agree the fee that Audax will receive if Di Santo is transferred again in the future and that's all. All the rest has been arranged.

"We are exchanging the last documents."

Cantergiani admitted that Chelsea have been very good to deal with.

"Chelsea has been more than a year following Franco and all the negotiations have been all the time very polite.

"They want to add him their squad when the transfer window opens in January. As Franco holds an Italian passport he can be at once part of their team."

Happy

The player expressed his delight at the impending move to West London.

"My agent told me not to talk about this, but the truth is I won't go on playing at Audax," he admitted.

"Playing at Chelsea would be very nice. It would be fantastic."

(Sky Sports)

Looks pretty good. had a quick scout around some sites and they seem to think he's the 'New Maradona'. The 25th one i know. also there are a few clips on youtube and he looks skillfull. we shall see

maybe Kenyon thought that he was signing Gio dos Santos instead?

He is 6ft 4!! AAArrgghhh it is Chris Sutton with a funny accent (no wait a minute Chris Sutton with a funny accent is Chris Sutton)

6ft 4 and only 18 - so we are playing 4-5-1 forevermore then.

It'll be nice to see him in the first team and not just the reserves.

Don't know anything about the lad but since his name is Franco I like him already

I have a feeling it could be just some British lad named Dick Santon who decided to fool Kenyon into believing he possesses an exotic sounding name so he must be the new Messi.

Seriously though, it's great that we're going after world's young talent. Eat your heart out Wenger.

i agree, it's nice to see young talent being introduced. doesn't matter if he's the new maradona or not, he has talent that all the top clubs in europe saw; we were just lucky enough to sign him.

I hope this is a sign of things to come...love good young talent coming to the club!

Is there an actual link to the story?

At 6ft 4 it seems that we are looking to stay with the solitary striker?? I wouldn't mind if we had him and Hunterlaar.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7579574

On Sky SPorts as well Scott

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 71,00.html

If Avram manages to bring him in, then i think it will go quite a way to convince a few sceptics (me included) of his ability as a manager.

Let's hope it happens, and that it's the beginning of some flair and creativity that we've been so lacking for some time.

Not sure this one has anything to do with Avram as it is reported that we have been watching him for over a year now.

Having seen nothing of him play can't really make much of a judgement call however how many 6 feet 4 strikers are full of flair and creativity?

Tore Andre Flo anyone?

Not sure this one has anything to do with Avram as it is reported that we have been watching him for over a year now.

Having seen nothing of him play can't really make much of a judgement call however how many 6 feet 4 strikers are full of flair and creativity?

Im only going to say it once just in case xxxx appears

Zlatan!?

Edit: Just had a little play on you tube, quite underewealmed if im honest!!