Chelsea are close to finalising the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga having activated the goalkeeper's €80 million (£71m/$92m) release clause, Goal can confirm.
The player's representatives and lawyers travelled to La Liga headquarters in Valencia on Wednesday to pay the fee, with Kepa now due to travel to London to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.
The Kepa deal will break the club's previous transfer record, set last season when the Blues signed Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid in an initial £58m ($75m) deal, potentially rising to £70m ($90m).
It will also make Kepa the world's most expensive goalkeeper, less than a month after Alisson joined Liverpool in a £65m (€73m/$85m) move.