Chelsea have at long last signed the Russian international left back Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow, for a fee believed to be around £18million. The 25 year old who has played 28 times for his country has signed a four year deal. The transfer saga had been dragging on since Russia coach Guus Hiddink first showed interest in the player while he was in temporary charge of Chelsea.
Zhirkov becomes Carlo Ancelotti’s first signing for Chelsea, announced on the day that the Italian officially takes his new position with the club.
While Zhirkov is considered a natural left back for his country, he is very capable of playing in midfield and that’s perhaps where Ancelotti is expecting to play the Russian, after saying “Zhirkov is naturally on the left. I think he can do all the work and play in defence and in between.”
I think that is the Italian’s way of saying the player is a left sided utility player, but maybe Chelsea have just landed a one man football machine!
1 comment so far
1 safc // Jul 7, 2009 at 11:21 am
£18million!!! football has just turned into monopolly money!