Porto sign Marseille's Imbula

Lisbon - FC Porto have splashed out €20 million to secure Marseille midfielder Giannelli Imbula on a five-year-deal, the Portuguese club announced on Wednesday.

The deal makes the Belgian-born French player Porto's second highest ever signing after Brazilian striker Hulk's €22 million arrival in 2008.

And it comes hours after the sale of Porto's Colombian striker Jackson Martinez to Atletico Madrid for €35 million.

Portuguese media suggest Imbula's transfer could outstrip Hulk's when add-ons to the players's father-cum-agent and his previous club, Guingamp are taken into account.

For Marseille, Imbula is the latest key player to quit the Velodrome since the south coast club's fourth-place finish last season.

He follows Dimitri Payet, who upped sticks to West Ham, Andre Ayew (Swansea), Jeremy Morel (Lyon) and Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres of Monterrey, Mexico).