Barcelona Agree Deal For Sevilla`s Alves

I am very pleased an agreement has been reached and that I will be joining a club of the stature of Barcelona.

"I am very pleased an agreement has been reached and that I will be joining a club of the stature of Barcelona," Alves was quoted as telling Spanish radio station RAC1.

"I am an ambitious player and hope that by joining an important club like this it will help me to win titles."

Spanish media reported that the 25-year-old international was set to move on a four-year contract for a fee of 29.5 million euros ($46.04 million), rising to 36 million euros depending on appearances and results.

Barca are expected to confirm the deal on Monday.

Alves, who can play on the right of defence or midfield, joined Sevilla from Bahia for less than one million euros in 2003 and was an outstanding player as they won back-to-back UEFA Cups in 2006 and 2007.

He was closely linked with a move to Chelsea last year but since the end of this season has made little secret of his desire to join the Catalans.

Alves will be Barca's fourth new signing of the close season, after midfielder Seydou Keita and defenders Martin Caceres and Gerard Pique, as they look to reconstruct the side under new coach Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb is reportedly Barca's next target.