Chelsea have agreed terms with Bolton over the transfer of Nicolas Anelka, according to the Blues' official website. The striker is expected to sign a four-and-a-half-year deal thought to be worth £15 million.

The French international will go straight into the squad for Saturday's Premier League clash with London rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge subject to the relevant paperwork being completed in time.

Anelka, 28, will become Blues boss Avram Grant's first signing since taking over from Jose Mourinho earlier this season.

Grant had been keen to strengthen his attacking options, with both Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou away with Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations until next month and Andriy Shevchenko - whose ability to make the grade in England is still in some doubt - currently out injured.

The fee will make Anelka the most expensive player in world football in terms of all-time transfer fees.

The fee will make Anelka the most expensive player in world football in terms of all-time transfer fees - a grand total of £84.5 million - outstripping the previous record holder Juan Sebastien Veron whose five moves had accrued £76.2m.

Anelka started his career in 1995 with his home-town club Paris St Germain before being discovered by Arsene Wenger and making the move across the Channel to Arsenal for a nominal fee of £500,000. Ninety appearances and 28 goals later, he was lured to Real Madrid for £22.3m before heading back to PSG for a second spell in a £20m deal.

A brief loan period with Liverpool preceded another big money move, this time to Manchester City for £12m before he signed for Turkish club Fenerbahce for the relatively meagre sum of £7m.

Then in 2006 Bolton stumped up £8m for his services and he spent a successful 18 months with the Trotters, scoring 21 goals in 52 games before being snared by Chelsea.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport