Brazilian playmaker to join Guangzhou Evergrande

Brazilian midfielder Elkeson is set to join China's Super League football club Guangzhou Evergrande after being released by Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo.

The 23-year-old, who was released by the club Tuesday, will travel to China, Jan 4, to meet coach Marcelo Lippi and undergo a routine medical examination, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese club is understood to have reached an agreement to pay Botafogo six million euros for the highly rated playmaker.

Elkeson has made 92 first-team appearances and scored 26 goals for Botafogo since joining the club at the beginning of last year.

In May it was reported he had attracted interests from Italian Serie A giants Juventus and Spain's Atletico Madrid.