Russian Premier League moneybags Anzhi Makhachkala have completed the signing of Brazil international attacking midfielder Willian from Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of €35 million, according to ESPN.
Willian, 24, had been attracting interest from a number of top clubs across Europe in recent months, with English Premier League duo Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur especially keen on the Brazilian.
The 24-year-old is a full Brazil international, having made his international debut for the Seleção on 10 November 2011 against Gabon.
“FC Shakhtar and FC Anzhi reached an agreement regarding Willian’s move to the Russian club in a transfer worth 35 million euros,” read a statement on the Shakhtar website.
“Shakhtar thanks Willian for the years spent at the club, for his goals and professionalism. We wish our former player success in his new team.”
Since arriving at the Donbass Arena in 2007 from his boyhood club Corinthians on a five-year contract, Willian has scored 37 goals in 221 competitive matches in all competitions for Shakhtar.
After finalising a new ‘long-term deal’ with Anzhi, Willian met his team-mates at a training camp in Marbella, Spain on Saturday.
Anzhi Makhachkala are currently second in the Russian Premier League table with 41 points from 19 league matches (12-5-2), two points adrift of top-of-the-table CSKA Moscow and three points clear of third-place Zenit St Petersburg.
Capoue attracting EPL interest
Mino Raiola, the agent of France and Toulouse FC defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue, has revealed that his client attracted interest from three ‘notable’ Premier League clubs during the January transfer window, Sky Sports understands.
Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur have been identified as the ‘notable’ English clubs chasing Capoue’s signature, but Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain are also reportedly keen on the France international.
Capoue, 24, is under contract at the Stadium Municipal de Toulouse until 2015, meaning that the Ligue 1 club will probably not let him go on the cheap.
“At lot of English clubs wanted to hire him, most notably Arsenal,
Tottenham and Fulham,” Mino Raiola told L’Equipe.
“Paris St Germain wanted him too, but that may be for the summer. We will see what happens in the future.
“I know Toulouse chairman Olivier Sadran was not keen to sell during the winter window.
“The fee demanded was a barrier on each occasion, but we held some polite talks.”
The 24-year-old Frenchman is extremely high-rated at Toulouse, having become a first-team regular at the age of 20 in 2008.
Capoue has scored four goals — the most he has ever scored in a season — in 21 league appearances for TFC in 2012-13.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
