The saga is finally over and the midfielder will have penned a £26m, five-year deal.
Such is Chelsea's contempt for all things other than themselves, they failed to conclude yesterday's medical in time for him to play for his national side Ghana against Senegal at Griffin Park last night.
The player swanned in late after he was due to play in the friendly.
Essien is available to play against Arsenal on Sunday.
However his lack of match play since he went on strike for his French club would seem to preclude him from what will be a blood-thirsty encounter against the Premier League's top two sides.