Salomon Kalou set for Botafogo move

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Botafogo have reached a deal to sign former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, according to press reports in Brazil.

The 34-year-old has agreed to an 18-month contract pending a routine medical exam, the Globo newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing Botafogo executive board member Carlos Montenegro.

Kalou's contract with Germany's Hertha BSC ended on June 30. The Ivorian will arrive in Rio with his Brazil-born partner, Karina Ferreira, next week on a flight from Berlin with a stopover in Frankfurt, the newspaper said.

He is the second high-profile signing for Botafogo in less than six months following the arrival of Japanese playmaker Keisuke Honda in February.

Kalou's 17-year professional career has included spells at Feyenoord, Chelsea and Lille. The 34-year-old has been capped 97 times for the Cote d'Ivoire national team, scoring 28 goals.

The Brazilian Serie A season is set to begin in August, having missed its scheduled May start because of the coronavirus pandemic.