Anzhi Makhachkala have signed Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported fee of €35 million.
The 24-year-old had been linked with a move to the English Premier League during the transfer window with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea confirmed as the two-front runners for his signature.
Willian was a key figure of the Shakhtar side that qualified for the knock-out phase of the Champions League, but it has been confirmed he is on his way to Russia.
Skakhtar signed the Brazilian playmaker in 2007 from Corinthians for €17 million and it was reported they were willing to sell him for just over €20 million.
Billionaire Suleyman Kerimov purchased Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011. Since then, his resources’ have allowed the club to sign Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o on a world-record salary and appoint Guus Hiddink as manager.
