Real Madrid will unveil new signing Lassana Diarra today. The Portsmouth midfielder will complete his £18 million move to Madrid on January 1, but is already in Spain after agreeing personal terms over a four-and-a-half year contract.

Real clinched an agreement with Diarra after the midfielder gave up a signing-on bonus written into his Pompey contract. The player saw action for Pompey in Saturday's defeat to Bolton Wanderers, which also forced Real to accelerate negotiations.

Manchester City had tabled a £24 million offer, but Pompey were prepared to drop their asking price from £21 million to £18 million to make the deal happen, says AS. Interestingly, Diarra moves to Real on similar terms - £1.8 million-a-year - to what he enjoys at Fratton Park.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, back from Japan for the Club World Cup, and honorary president Alfredo di Stefano will both be present for Diarra's signing ceremony at 1pm this afternoon.