Last updated on .From the section Football

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Paris St-Germain, worth in the region of £40m, for the sale of defender David Luiz to the French champions.

Luiz, 27, joined the Blues from Benfica for £21.3m in January 2011.

"The move is now subject to David Luiz agreeing personal terms with PSG and passing a medical," a statement on Chelsea's official website external-link read.

The Brazilian has three years left on the five-year contract he signed at Stamford Bridge in September 2012.

He said on Twitter: "Thanks CFC for this time of great partnership. I'm thankful for all! It's a new challenge and together we'll go even further. Allez Paris!"

Luiz has been the subject of interest from Barcelona external-link in the last two summers, but French champions PSG - despite recently failing Uefa's financial fair play (FFP) rules - will break the transfer record for a defender to secure his services.

World's most expensive defenders Player From To Amount (£m) Date Thiago Silva AC Milan Paris St-Germain 36 2012 Rio Ferdinand Leeds United Manchester United 33.1 2002 Marquinhos Roma Paris St-Germain 27 2013 Fabio Coentrao Benfica Real Madrid 27 2011 Pepe Porto Real Madrid 25 2007

Luiz is not part of manager Jose Mourinho's first-choice central defensive pairing and his exit would provide funds to strengthen in other areas, especially as Chelsea themselves only narrowly complied with FFP rules.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is among those linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Luiz at Chelsea Cost a reported £21m from Benfica on 31 January 2011

Has made 143 appearances in all competitions for the club and scored 12 goals

Scored a penalty in the 2011-12 Champions League final shootout win over Bayern Munich

Played in the 2-1 win over former club Benfica in the 2012-13 Europa League final

Because of FFP, Chelsea cannot afford to spend heavily on incoming players unless they recoup similar amounts from outgoings - which they could, and did, in the earlier years of owner Roman Abramovich's reign.

The new financial restrictions, coupled with Mourinho's plans from a footballing perspective, are now at the forefront of the club's thinking and also explain the £37.1m sale of midfielder Juan Mata to Manchester United in January.

All 12 of Luiz's goals for the Blues came in his first two-and-a-half seasons and although he played 34 games during the 2013-14 campaign, Mourinho prefers John Terry and Gary Cahill at centre-half and Luiz is not seen as a long-term option in midfield.

Chelsea have high hopes for 21-year-old Czech Tomas Kalas and 19-year-old Englishman Nathaniel Chalobah as defensive options.

The Blues also spent £12m on St Etienne centre-back Kurt Zouma in January.