Espanyol have confirmed they have reached an agreement for Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura to join the club.

According to Espanyol, Nakamura is pencilled in to arrive in Barcelona on July 10, when he will take his medical. If all goes well, he will be officially presented just a few days before the team return for pre-season training.

Nakamura, who turns 31 tomorrow, had initially looked set to return to his former club Yokohama F. Marinos after his contract with Scottish outfit Celtic expired.

However, Marinos officials were informed yesterday by Nakamura's agent that the player had decided against returning to the J.League outfit and to move to Espanyol instead.

Nakamura is the second new signing Espanyol have secured in as many days, having yesterday snapped up teenage Israel striker Ben Sahar from Chelsea on a four-year contract.