West Ham agree deal with emerging Sao Paulo centre-back

West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign Sao Paulo's highly-rated centre-back Luizao, 90min understands.

The 20-year-old has been monitored by a number of European clubs after breaking into Sao Paulo's side and is out of contract at the Brazilian giants at the end of January.

Sao Paulo boss Rogerio Ceni recently admitted Luizao was "very likely to leave" and that his imminent departure would be a "painful process" for the club, and sources have confirmed to 90min that he has turned down two new contract offers.

Benfica, Sporting, Porto, Fulham, Wolves, Juventus and the Red Bull group all put offers forward to Luizao, but 90min has learned a pre-contract agreement with West Ham has been signed and he'll be joining David Moyes' side on a three-and-a-half year contract.

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Luizao will join up with his new club at the end of his Sao Paulo contract, pending the awarding of a work permit, and West Ham hope to immediately integrate him into their first team squad.

The circumstances of Luizao's departure from Sao Paulo are similar to those of Arsenal winger Marquinhos, who traded his homeland for a move to the capital last summer. He was also out of contract after graduating from Sao Paulo's academy and moved to the Emirates Stadium in June despite Wolves believing he'd agreed a deal with them.

90min further understands West Ham have offered to pay Sao Paulo a fee to sign Luizao before his contract officially ends, but they have rejected the terms - despite their financial difficulties - and he will instead leave at the conclusion of the January transfer window.