Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old Russia left-back completed the deal at the club's Cobham training ground today and the player quickly expressed his delight at moving to the Blues. Although Chelsea have not revealed the fee, it is understood to be around £18million.

"Any footballer would be happy to sign a contract with Chelsea, and at any time," said Zhirkov. "I have been received very well here, and have been shown the base at the Cobham training ground - everything is super."

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.
Yuri Zhirkov on his transition to Chelsea

The Russian has already met some of the players and is well aware of the club's links with his country. "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," said Zhirkov. "Now I hope to learn English too. I always used to watch English football on the TV and know about Dmitri Kharine and Alexei Smertin at Chelsea."

Zhirkov makes the move from CSKA Moscow after a five-year stint with the club. He joined them in 2004 from Spartak Tambov. He made his debut in 2001 and scored 26 goals in 74 games for the Russian third division outfit.

Star turn
But it was at CSKA where he cemented his place as a wide man with a deft left foot, lightning pace and exceptional dribbling ability - scoring 15 goals in 139 appearances for the club. He can play left-back but is comfortable in any position on that wing and it was as a more attacking midfielder that he won the UEFA Cup in 2005 after scoring during a 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the final.

Zhirkov made his Russia debut in 2005 against Italy and has since made 31 appearances for his country - the majority of which have come under Chelsea's former interim boss Guus Hiddink. He was named in the UEFA EURO 2008 'Team of the Tournament' after an impressive contribution throughout the competition as a wing-back when Russia were the surprise package in making the semi-finals. They lost to eventual winners Spain.

Zhirkov won the Russian Premier League twice with CSKA in 2005 and 2006 and has three Russian Cups to his name, in 2005, 2006 and 2008.