Arshavin returns to Zenit
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Article summary
Andrey Arshavin has signed a two-year contract with FC Zenit, returning to the Stadion Petrovski after a four-and-a-half-year spell with Arsenal FC.
Article top media content
Article body
Andrey Arshavin will make a permanent return to hometown club FC Zenit, after agreeing to sign a two-year deal.
The 32-year-old will join Luciano Spalletti's side on 1 July after his contract with Arsenal FC expires, bringing to an end a four-and-a-half-year stay in London. The former Russian captain rejoins the club where he won the title in 2007 and the UEFA Cup in 2008, during a nine-year spell which produced 71 goals in 310 matches.
"I am very happy to put on Zenit's shirt again," said the 2006 Russian player of the year. "Of course I want to return to the national team as well. I do not know if the move to Zenit will help me, I just want to play football and play in my home city."
Arshavin scored 31 goals in 144 games during his time with the Gunners, returning briefly to Zenit on loan during the 2011/12 season, scoring three goals in 11 matches.
The signing is the third made by the Russian runners-up this summer with FC Bayern München’s Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Xanthi FC goalkeeper Yuri Londygin also arriving at the Stadion Petrovski. The trio will be in contention to make their first appearance on 13 July when Zenit take on PFC CSKA Moskva in the Russian Super Cup.
