Yuri Zhirkov proud to follow Kharine and Smertin as Chelsea confirm £18m signing

07 July 2009 18:48
Yuri Zhirkov has vowed to learn English as quickly as possible after confirming his £18million transfer from CSKA Moscow to Chelsea. Spasiba! Yuri Zhirkov (right) leaves CSKA with fond memories Both clubs confirmed the deal this evening after the 25-year-old passed a medical and penned a three-year contract worth £80,000 a week that is understood to have the option of a fourth season. The Russia winger, who can also play left-back, met his team-mates for the first time at Cobham today and said: 'Any footballer would be happy to sign a contract with Chelsea, and at any time,' he said. 'I have been received very well here, and have been shown the base at the Cobham training ground, everything is super.' The Russia international has already met some of the players, and is familiar with Chelsea's Russian links. 'Of course it is good when some of the players speak Russian, even today Petr Cech translated some bits and pieces, and I understand some words in English. Now I hope to learn English too, he explained. 'I always used to watch English football on the TV and know about Dmitri Kharine and Alexey Smertin at Chelsea.' He leaves CSKA with the Russian club's best regards. A statement on their website read: 'We thank Yuri for the years spent at our club and for the joy that he brought to many fans. We are confident that at Chelsea he will be no less successful than he was at CSKA. 'Good luck to you, Yura!'

Source: Daily_Mail