Good Signing at the Bridge

Russian football championship match: Tom Tomsk 1 ? 0 CSKA Moscow

Chelsea have signed Russian international Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for a reported £18m fee.
The 25-year-old left-back, who has played 28 times for Russia, came to prominence during Euro 2008 when the national side reached the semi-finals.
Zhirkov, who can also play in midfield, has joined on a four-year deal. New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the signing at first official news conference saying: “Zhirkov is naturally on the left.”
He added: “I think he can do all the work and can play in defence and in between.”
The Russian utility player is Chelsea’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and striker Daniel Sturridge. (BBC Sport)

It seems that either because of the financial meltdown or because Roman Abramovich realised that he was spending over the odds these past few years that now the west London side is getting very good at picking up intelligent signings and this latest one, clearly the handy work of Russian manager and former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, is a damn good bit of business.

He was fantastic at Euro 2008 but has been impressing many for a few years now and could well challenge for spots all across the left side. Equally adept at full back and as a winger I guess his main task is to make Florent Malouda worry about his starting place as the Frenchman only really came into form as the season came to an end. Not sure where all of this leaves long term injury victim Joe Cole but nonetheless the signing of Zhirkov is a top notch one.

Get a free £10 bet on Chelsea by joining William Hill now.