Chelsea have confirmed a £52million fee has been agreed with Shanghai SIPG over the sale of Brazilian midfielder Oscar.

He will become the most expensive signing by a Chinese Super League club, joining up with former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas in January as clubs in the Far East continue to splash the cash.

Oscar has fallen out of favour under Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge, playing 11 matches this season but has not started in the Premier League for the leaders since mid-September, when Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool.

Chelsea have confirmed £52m fee has been agreed with Shanghai SIPG over the sale of Oscar

The Brazilian star will become the most expensive signing by a Chinese Super League club

OSCAR'S CHELSEA STATS Games: 203 Goals: 38 Honours: Europa League (2012), League Cup (2015), Premier League (2015) Advertisement

After sealing his move, Oscar wrote on Instagram: 'I want to thank Chelsea, the owner and all the employees who have made my time at the club so special.

'A very special thank you to the Chelsea fans you guys are very special and I am honoured to have been a part of your club. We have won some special titles together. The UEFA Europa League, the League Cup and of course Premier League Champions!!! You will always have a special place in my heart.'

Chelsea added: 'Chelsea Football Club and Shanghai SIPG have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Oscar.

'We thank Oscar for his wonderful service and wish him the very best of luck for the future.'

Brazil striker Hulk became SIPG's record signing in June, joining from Zenit St Petersburg for £47m on £320,000 a week — but Oscar will leapfrog his countryman as the club's top earner.

Oscar has been a Chelsea player since 2012 and has made more than 200 appearances

The Brazilian won the Europa League during his first season with the west Londoners

CHELSEA HAVE MADE £314M FROM PLAYER SALES SINCE JUNE '13 The sale of Oscar to Shanghai SIPG for £52million has caught the eye, but it only speaks for the way Chelsea have succeeded when selling players since June 2013. After that date Chelsea have made a staggering £314.4m from player sales, more than any other side in the Premier League. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE Advertisement

The club have decided to cash in, having paid £19m to sign Oscar from Brazilian club Internacional four-and-a-half years ago, as Conte looks to revamp his defence in the next two transfer windows.

Oscar will be the latest player with Chelsea connections to play in China, following Didier Drogba, Ramires, Nicolas Anelka and Demba Ba.

He leaves Stamford Bridge having won the Premier League title, Europa League, League Cup and twice winning the club's goal of the season award.

Given the riches on offer, the Chinese Super League is quickly becoming a serious option for Europe's most high-profile players.

Oscar will join up with former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas (pictured) in January

The 25-year-old will join compatriot Hulk, who earns £320,000-a-week at Shanghai SIPG

Oscar joins the Chinese side at a time of financial boom for the league, with five of the 14 best-paid footballers in the world now playing in the CSL.

Graziano Pelle, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Jackson Martinez are all recent arrivals in the league, while Villas-Boas himself is also on big money, earning £11m-a-year since replacing former England boss Sven Goran-Eriksson.

Chelsea manager Conte has recently spoken of the 'danger' posed by the big-spending Chinese Super League sides, who now boast the financial clout to outmuscle Premier League rivals.

Speaking last week, before the Oscar deal was officially announced, he said: 'The Chinese market is a danger for all teams in the world; not only for Chelsea but all teams in the world.

The move from Chelsea to China is similar to the one that took Didier Drogba to Shanghai

Graziano Pelle (right) was another Premier League player to make a big-money move to China

'But I think that we must be concentrated on our work. I think that this league is fantastic and to play in this league is a great opportunity, a great honour.

'You must be very proud to play in this league. Because I think now it's the best league in the world.

'For this reason, I don't worry about this.'

Shanghai finished third in the league last season, meaning that their Asian Champions League campaign begins early in the play-off rounds in February.

They have never won the Super League, but did finish second under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2015.

The 25-year-old playmaker has been a peripheral figure under Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

Conte has recently spoken of 'danger' posed by the big-spending Chinese Super League sides