Manchester City are close to completing a £25 million deal to sign Yaya Toure from Barcelona, according to the player's agent.

Toure has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and it seems City have beaten Chelsea to the signing of the highly-rated holding midfielder, despite not playing in the Champions League next season.

Agent Dimitri Seluk, who is due to hold final talks with new Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, said: "I think we will probably close his departure very soon. It is likely to be this week but at the moment we can't announce anything."

"I haven't spoken to Rosell but I will speak to him before anything is closed. [Joan] Laporta is the president until 30 June but I have to speak to Rosell and know his opinion because he is the new president."

Ivory Coast international Toure is expected to formally complete the deal after the World Cup, which ends on June 11, and will team up with his brother, Kolo, at Eastlands.