FREE agent Sylvain Distin has “agreed in principle” to join Cherries according to reports from Sky Sports News.

The French defender was released by Everton at the end of last season and has a wealth of Premier League experience with Portsmouth, Manchester City and a loan spell at Newcastle on his CV.

Distin, 37, played more than 200 times in six years at Goodison Park having signed for a reported fee of £5million from Pompey where he won the FA Cup in 2008.

The latest development brings to a head speculation linking Cherries with Distin which has rumbled on since the Express first reported it back in May.

Born in Bangolet, a suburb of French capital Paris, Distin began his career with non-league side Joue Les Tours before moving into the professional ranks with second-flight club Gueugnon.

After a brief spell with French giants Paris St Germain, Distin made his way to the Tynesiders and has racked up more than 400 Premier League appearances across 14 years.

A left-sided player, six-foot-four Distin can play at centre-half or as a full-back.