Two-time stage winner of the Tour de France Alexander Kristoff has reached a deal to ride for UAE Team Emirates in the 2018 and 2019 season.
The Norwegian has struggled to re-find the form of previous years - that saw him win both Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders - yet will be expected to add some fire power to UAE's classics outfit in his move away from Katusha-Alpecin.
In an announcement on its Facebook page, UAE Team Emirates confirmed that Kristoff had reached personal terms and would sign the official contract in the coming weeks, pending medical tests.
Kristoff did not manage to take a stage of this year's Tour but did return to winning ways taking last Sunday's RideLondon-Surrey Classic.
With Kristoff on the way out of Katusha-Alpecin, a rider that could find themselves on the way in is Marcel Kittel. The German sprinter has been heavily rumoured to be moving across to the Swiss WorldTour side in a transfer that will see him reunited with compatriot Tony Martin.
Kittel remains unconfirmed with reports suggesting his current team, Quick-Step Floors, are still negotiating a new contract.
This latest transfer could also see Elia Viviani stay put at Team Sky. The Italian was expected to sign for UAE, with a view to make an immediate switch on 1st August. However, with the move of Kristoff, Viviani could find himself surplus to requirements for the Emirates based team.