Source: Daily_Mail
Eduardo clinches £6m move from Arsenal to Shakhtar Donetsk
New challenge: Eduardo has signed for Shakhtar[LNB]Eduardo da Silva has completed a £6million move from Arsenal to Shakhtar Donetsk after passing a medical with the Ukrainian champions.[LNB]The Croatia striker has signed a four-year contract understood to be worth about £50,000 a week, as first revealed by Sportsmail.[LNB]Eduardo leaves the Emirates Stadium three years after joining from Dinamo Zagreb in £7.5million deal.[LNB]The 27-year-old failed to hold down a regular place with the Gunners last season as he struggled to regain form and fitness following a shocking double leg break at Birmingham City in February 2008.[LNB]He was nonetheless popular among team-mates and fans at Arsenal and there has not been a shortage of well wishers as he embarks on a new challenge.[LNB]The signing is a coup for Shakhtar, who earlier this month re-signed defender Dmytro Chyrgrynskiy from Barcelona for £12.5million before turning their attention to bringing in a quality centre forward for their Champions League campaign.[LNB]Aston Villa had expressed an interest in the Brazil-born striker, but Shakhtar got their man after negotiations lasting a week.[LNB] Popular Gunner: Eduardo had plenty of fans at the Emirates Stadium[LNB]Arsenal may now re-enter the race to sign Loic Remy from Nice as a replacement, but they would face competition from West Ham, Liverpool and Tottenham for the France international.[LNB]Eduardo agreed in principle to make the move on Sunday and was put through and extensive examination of his ankle in London on Monday. That was followed up by a general medical today, which revealed no nasty surprises.[LNB]With the Ukrainian championship already underway, he could make his debut as early as Sunday, when Shakhtar host Zorya.[LNB]Eduardo consulted his national team manager Slaven Bilic before making the move and has been backed to settle in quickly, not least because Shakhtar have several Brazilian players and are captained by Croatia defender Darijo Srna.[LNB][LNB]Comeback: This tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor sidelined Eduardo [LNB]Srna is believed to have played a central part in negotiations and met his compatriot at Donetsk airport on Tuesday afternoon.[LNB]International team-mate Ognjen Vukojevic played alongside Eduardo at Dinamo Zagreb and will now be his rival as a Dynamo Kiev player. [LNB]And he said: 'He's my best friend. For the national team we are room-mates. How will he improve Shakhtar? There will be a lot of goals. He just needs to regain form.[LNB]'However, I told him that the Ukrainian championship is hard, like the English, and you get a lot of kicks. He laughed in response.[LNB]'He will slay everyone but Dynamo. I warned him about the championship in Ukraine, which he didn't see. We won it (last season). But Shakhtar now have the advantage: they have one more Croat.'[LNB] Arsenal striker Eduardo agrees £6m Shakhtar switch after Bilic's approvalShakhtar Donetsk close in on £6m deal for Arsenal striker Eduardo Vermaelen impressed with Arsenal new boy Koscielny as pair link upArsenal to haggle over Dynamo Kiev defender Diakhate but face Spurs fight ARSENAL FC
