“A new stage….a new dream…Munich here we come,” wrote Vidal. PHOTO: AFP

Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal is poised to complete his switch from Juventus to Bayern Munich in the coming days after flying to Bavaria on Monday for a medical.

The 28-year-old posted a picture of himself and agent Fernando Felicevich on Twitter on Monday sat on a plane with the caption: “A new stage….a new dream…Munich here we come.”

The Chilean international is now expected to pass a medical to complete the deal which Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed was imminent last Thursday having agreed a transfer fee with the Serie A champions.

A key component in the Juventus team that reached last month’s Champions League final, Vidal is expected to slot into Bayern’s midfield as a replacement for Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has joined Manchester United.

Vidal is set for his second stint in the Bundesliga having spent four seasons at Bayer Leverkusen from 2007-2011.

He converted a spot-kick in Chile’s 4-1 penalty shoot-out win over Argentina earlier this month that saw them win the Copa America and was named in the team of the tournament.

However, his tournament was also overshadowed by an arrest for drink driving after he crashed his Ferrari as he was returning to the capital Santiago after an evening at a casino. His wife, who was with him in the car, was injured.

German champions Bayern have just completed a tour of China and will start the new Bundesliga season at home to Hamburg on Friday, August 14.

They will be bidding to make history by becoming the first team to win four consecutive Bundesliga titles.

Villa snap up Ayew

Aston Villa have once again raided France’s Ligue 1 to complete the signing of Ghana striker Jordan Ayew from Lorient.

Villa announced on Monday that the 23-year-old had signed for an undisclosed fee and had penned a five-year deal in Birmingham after passing a medical.

“I’m really pleased to bring Jordan to the football club. He is a fantastic young player who is perfectly suited to the Premier League,” said Villa manager Tim Sherwood.

Ayew, the son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele, started his career at Marseille but struggled to win a regular first-team place at the Stade Velodrome.

He shone on loan at Sochaux in the second half of the 2013-14 season and then joined Lorient last year, scoring 12 goals in 31 Ligue 1 games.

He had been a target for Lille, but has chosen to move to Villa where he will attempt to help fill the void left by Christian Benteke’s £32.5 million (45.6m euro, $50.6m) switch to Liverpool.

Earlier on Monday, Spanish side Cordoba announced that they had agreed a deal for 28-year-old full-back Jose Angel Crespo to move to Villa.

Sherwood’s side have already been busy in the transfer market this summer, with signings including Lille’s Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye and young Nice full-back Jordan Amavi as well as Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

Ayew’s elder brother Andre also recently swapped France for the Premier League, joining Swansea City on a free transfer after his contract with Marseille expired.

Stoke sign former Barcelona winger Afellay

Stoke City have signed former Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay on a free transfer, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday.

Afellay agreed a two-year contract with City and will link up with his boss Mark Hughes and his new team-mates on their pre-season tour of France.

The 29-year-old Netherlands international — capped 50 times — was available to move after his contract with Barcelona expired in the close-season.

Former PSV Eindhoven star Afellay joins compatriots Erik Pieters and Marco van Ginkel in the Stoke squad, along with former Barcelona team-mates Bojan Krkic, Marc Muniesa and Moha El Ouriachi.

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes told his club’s website: “It’s no secret that Ibrahim was wanted by a number of clubs and we are understandably delighted that he has chosen to join us.

“He’s clearly excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League and the fact that he knows so many players who are already at the club will no doubt help him settle into his new surroundings.”

Afellay’s time with Barcelona was disrupted by injury problems and he made just 21 league appearances for the Spanish club, while also spending time on loan at Schalke and Olympiakos.

He becomes Stoke’s eighth close-season signing following the arrivals of Philipp Wollscheid, Jakob Haugaard, Joselu, Van Ginkel, Glen Johnson, Shay Given and Moha.

Drogba joins Montreal Impact in MLS transfer

Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba joined Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact on Monday, the Ivory Coast striker signing with the Canadian club after a rights transfer from the Chicago Fire.

The 37-year-old African star, who will join the Impact when his Canadian work permit and transfer certificate are obtained, signed an 18-month contract at just over $3 million a year, according to reports.

“It’s an honour to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact,” team president Joey Saputo said. “From the first conversation I had with him, I felt that he really wanted to play in Montreal. This is one of the biggest days in club history and his arrival to the club will be beneficial in every aspect.”

Drogba played 381 games with English Premier League giant Chelsea from 2004 through 2012 and last season, scoring 164 goals and setting up 88 others. He helped the Blues win four Premier League titles, one Champions League crown, four FA Cups and three League Cups.

“He has had an impact on millions of people since the start of his career and he will continue to do so wearing the Impact colours,” team vice president Nick De Santis said. “A player of his magnitude can only help grow our club. He has been a leader, a winner and a champion throughout his career.”

In 2012, Drogba scored the equalizer and the winning penalty that gave the Blues their first Champions League crown, defeating Bayern Munich.

“He has demonstrated his qualities as a striker at the highest level in Europe,” Impact technical director Adam Braz said. “His instinct in front of the goal, his experience and his leadership are all attributes that will help the team.”

Drogba also scored eight goals in 11 games with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua as well as 20 goals for Turkish club Galatasaray, winners of the league in 2013 and the Turkish Cup in 2014.

Drogba played 105 games with the Ivory Coast between 2002 and 2014, finishing as the Elephants’ all-time top scorer with 65 goals and three World Cup appearances.