Yuri Zhirkov has completed his move from Chelsea to Anzhi Makhachkala, the Russian club has revealed
Full-back makes return to homeland
Defender Yuri Zhirkov has completed his move from Chelsea to Anzhi Makhachkala, the Russian club has revealed.
The left-sided defender has endured a number of injury problems since signing for Chelsea two years ago and so has never been able to command a regular first-team place.
He admitted at the end of last season that he may need to leave the club in order to find first-team football and new Chelsea boss Andres-Villas Boas was prepared to let him go in order to strengthen the squad elsewhere.
Very glad
The likes of Rubin Kazan, Dynamo Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg were all linked with a move for the 27-year-old before it emerged this week that he had travelled to Russia to hold talks with Anzhi.
Zhirkov subsequently sealed a four-year contract with the Russian Premier League outfit on Saturday and was presented to the crowd before their home game against Tom Tomsk.
"I am very glad to be here and I hope I will have the chance to make my debut on Anzhi's next game," Zhirkov told the club's
official website.
