A former Premier League star with 162 appearances in the English top-flight is set to move to Brazil for the next stage of his career.

Criciuma, who have just earned promotion to the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, have reportedly agreed a pre-contract with the 34-year-old French born winger, who was out of contract after the end of a short-term deal in the Championship.

In 2015, he was part of the DR Congo side that finished in third place at that year’s AFCON tournament, scoring against Zambia in the competition.

He has also had spells with Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough during his time in English football.

Ex-Everton and Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie is close to a move to Brazil’s top flight

The DR Congo winger is a free agent after the end of a short-term spell at Swansea City

In November, he signed a short-term deal with Championship side Swansea City as a free agent after leaving Turkish side Caykur Rizespor at the end of last season.

Bolasie played 12 games for the South Wales side before departing the club again at the end of January. 

Now it seems that he is set to head across the Atlantic for more top-flight football, this time in Brazil.  

Fabrizio Romano wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Understand Brazilian Criciuma have agreed pre-contract to sign Yannick Bolasie.

‘Deal in place, waiting to check details and then time to travel to Brazil next week if all goes to plan.’

He also had spells with Plymouth Argyle, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough in English football

Bolasie played 50 times for the Democratic Republic of Congo, scoring nine goals, and played a key role in their third-placed finish at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which was held in Equatorial Guinea.

The journeyman winger has also spent time with Maltese side Floriana, Belgian club Anderlecht and Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in his career, but Criciuma in Brazil would be his first club outside of Europe.