Denisov leaves Zenit for Anji Makhachkala
Friday, June 21, 2013
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The Russia captain Igor Denisov has ended his long association with hometown club FC Zenit by signing for FC Anji Makhachkala in a €12m transfer.
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Russia captain Igor Denisov has joined UEFA Europa League group stage entrants FC Anji Makhachkala on a long-term contract.
Anji have made the 29-year-old FC Zenit midfielder their third summer signing for a reported €12m, following the earlier arrivals of FC Kuban Krasnodar midfielder Aleksei Ionov and FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov.
The move takes Denisov from last season's Premier-Liga runners-up to a side that finished nine points below them in third. He also leaves his hometown club where he had spent his entire career, scoring 23 goals in 254 league games following his Zenit debut in 2002.
"We are happy with this transfer – in Igor we have a quality addition to our squad," said Anji chief executive Aivaz Kaziakhmedov. Denisov, who was made Russia captain by Fabio Capello after the Italian's appointment last summer, also won three Russian titles and the 2008 UEFA Cup with the St Petersburg team.
