Chelsea Sign 'The Russian Ronaldinho' For £18.5million

Russian International Yuri Zhirkov has signed for Chelsea and will join the Premier League club this summer from CSKA Moscow, according to quotes from his agent in Russian paper Tvoi Den.
25-year-old Zhirkov was understood to have been one of the recommendations made by interim Blues manager Guus Hiddink to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic. The Dutchman knowing all about the talents of the left-sided winger, who has been dubbed ‘The Russian Ronaldinho’ in his homeland after working with Zhirkov while in charge of the Russian national side. A job Hiddink will return to after Chelsea’s FA Cup final against Everton on Saturday.

Zhirkov is now set to join Chelsea on a four-year deal, with Abramovic understood to have shelled out a fee in the region of £18.5million to lure his compatriot to Stamford Bridge. His agent revealing that Zhirkov will link up with the Premiership side this summer after signing for the West London club in the last day or two.

“Yury [Zhirkov] has signed the contract with Chelsea just a day or two ago," Zhirkov's agent told Tvoi Den.
“He will join his new team this summer.”

Capped by Russia 30 times, Zhirkov scored 15 goals in 139 league appearances for CSKA during his time at the Luzhniki Stadium. The Russian now set to follow Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin, who signed for Tottenham and Arsenal respectively last season.


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