LONDON: Porto agreed to sell their Colombia striker Jackson Martinez to Atletico Madrid while agreeing a deal to sign France Under-21 international Giannelli Imbula from Olympique Marseille on the opening day of the summer transfer window on Wednesday.

Imbula signed for 20 million euros ($22.3 million) from Marseille, with Porto revealing he has a release clause of 50 million euros.

The Belgium-born 22-year-old plays as a defensive midfielder and is tipped for a fine future.

Atletico moved to strengthen their forward line for next season following the exit of Mario Mandzukic by agreeing to buy Martinez.

Martinez, 28, had a contract with the Portuguese club until the end of the 2016-17 season and Atletico agreed to pay his buyout clause worth 35 million euros, Porto said on their website (www.fcporto.pt).

Diego Simeone’s side, who are yet to confirm the deal, were in the market for a striker after they sold Croatia international Mandzukic to Italian champions Juventus.

Simeone is looking to rebuild after Atletico failed to reach the heights of 2013-14, when they won their first La Liga title in 18 years and came close to beating Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Martinez graduated from the Independiente Medellin youth academy to the first team before joining Mexico’s Chiapas Jaguares in January 2010 and then moving to Porto in 2012.

Rohinho to play in China

Veteran Brazil striker Robinho said Tuesday that he is leaving Brazilian club Santos and will reportedly play in China for Guangzhou Evergrande, now coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Santos said it could not match the offers made for the 31-year-old striker, especially from international clubs.

Robinho said that “unfortunately it won’t be possible to renew the contract, but Santos will always remain in my heart.”

“I want to thank club directors for trying hard to make it possible for me to stay so everybody could be happy,” he said. “I’m upset because this is like my family, but life goes on. Santos will remain big and I will try to be happy doing what I like the most, which is playing football.”

Brazilian media reported that Robinho has reached a deal to join big-spending Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for 12 million euros ($13.3 million) per year.

However the Chinese club denied any deal had been reached.

In a telephone interview from Guangzhou, club spokesman Wang Yunhao said there was no contract with Robinho.

“There is no such thing,” Wang told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Santos president Modesto Roma Jr. said Robinho “will continue his career with another club and we wish success to our eternal idol.”

Liverpool confirms Clyne capture

Nathaniel Clyne has become the latest pre-season arrival at Anfield after Liverpool confirmed on Wednesday they had signed the England defender from Premier League rivals Southampton.

A Liverpool statement said the full-back had “penned a long-term contract with the Reds.” No fee was disclosed.

However, British media outlets reported that Clyne had signed a five-year deal worth £10 million ($16 million, 14 million euros) up front, with add-ons for the 24-year-old set to cost Liverpool a further £2 million.

Clyne is the sixth player to join Liverpool this pre-season following Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, Charlton defender Joe Gomez, Manchester City midfielder James Milner, Burnley striker Danny Ings and Hoffenheim forward Roberto Firmino.

Clyne made 94 Premier League appearances for Southampton in a three-year spell with the south coast club and scored for the Saints at Anfield on the opening weekend of last term in a 2-1 win for Liverpool.

His form saw Clyne win the first of his five England caps in a match against Slovenia in November 2014.