Sylvain Distin will complete a medical with Everton and is set to join the club from Portsmouth.
The French defender has signed with the Toffees for an undisclosed fee subject to a medical and will be used as a straight replacement for Joleon Lescott who joined Manchester City earlier this week.
Distin was also linked with Aston Villa but after that club made a move for City’s Richard Dunne, Everton emerged as the frontrunner.
Everton chief executive Robert Elstone confirmed the deal was poised.
"After Sylvain made it clear his preferred destination was Goodison, the chairman (Bill Kenwright ) moved quickly to finalise the deal - and Sylvain is now on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical," Elstone told the club's official website.