Newcastle United are expected to confirm the signing of Cameroon international Geremi later today.

The 28-year-old Chelsea midfielder is reported to have agreed a £2 million, three-year switch to St. James' Park to become Sam Allardyce's fourth addition to the United squad.

Geremi's arrival follows the completion on Friday of a £2.9m deal to land Czech international defender David Rozenhal, as Allardyce looks to strengthen a defence that leaked 47 Premiership goals last season. The former Bolton Wanderers manager began his reign with the signings of Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton and striker Mark Viduka from Middlesbrough.

Geremi, who joined Chelsea for £7million in 2003 from Real Madrid following a loan spell at Middlebrough, played 28 times last season, but struggled to command a regular place in Jose Mourinho's team. Deployed either as a right-sided midfielder, or fullback, he was relegated to the substitutes' bench for his side's most important match, the Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool.

Aston Villa and Middlebrough were among those competing for his signature, but the promise of Allardyce's Tyneside revolution appears to have won through.