RIO DE JANEIRO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Flamengo has reached an agreement to sign Arsenal and Italy international midfielder Jorginho on a free transfer, according to media reports in Brazil.

Jorginho is contracted to the Premier League side until June 30, and he is currently free to sign a pre-contract with another club under FIFA rules.

Newspaper O Globo reported on Monday that the 33-year-old had agreed to personal terms of a deal that will tie him to Flamengo until 2028.

It added that the former Chelsea and Napoli player would join the Brazilian Serie A outfit in early June, in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Flamengo will begin its campaign against Tunisian side ES Tunis on June 16 before also facing Chelsea and Leon in the group stage.

Jorginho, who was born in Brazil before moving to Italy when he was 15, has made 78 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal since his 2023 move from London rival Chelsea.

Negotiations between Flamengo and Jorginho's representatives reportedly began in January, when the playmaker visited Rio de Janeiro with fiancee Catherine Harding. ■