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Everton Sign Bilyaletdinov
By Matthew Gamble
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Bilyaletdinov goes head to head with Cesc
Fabregas at Euro 2008. Photo: evertonfc.com
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Everton have signed Russian international Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
from Lokomotiv Moscow for an undisclosed fee.
Blues officials met with the player and his representatives in Hamburg
on Monday (due to the fact he is permitted to enter Germany with a Russian
passport without a visa) where the midfielder signed a five year contract
that will keep him on Merseyside until 2014.
The 24-year-old, who is an established international with 28 caps, will
now return to Russia to complete the formalities of a visa application
to enter the UK.
Unfortunately for the Blues, the player will be ineligible for Thursday's
Europa League play-off 2nd leg with Sigma Olomouc due to the Uefa registration
deadline passing - and it remains unlikely that he will have arrived on
Merseyside in time to prepare for the weekend's Premier League clash with
Wigan.
He is due in the UK in early September for Russia's World Cup qualifier
with Wales and the likelihood is that he will join up with his new teammates
for the first time ahead of the trip to Fulham the following weekend.
"We are delighted to have secured the services of Diniyar,"
said Everton chief executive Robert Elstone.
"I know David Moyes has wanted to bring him to Goodison for some
time and we look forward to welcoming him."
Bilyaletdinov broke into Lokomotiv's first team in 2004, quickly forging
a reputation for his direct running style as well as displaying the leadership
skills which would later be rewarded with the captain's armband.
The tall left-footer helped Lokomotiv to only their second Russian title
in his debut season, earning the League's Young Player of the Year accolade
in the process.
Bilyaletdinov is a regular for the Russian national team after making
his debut aged 20. He featured in every game of their memorable run to
the semi-finals of Euro 2008, where they lost to eventual winners Spain.
Before that he played in 10 of Russia's 12 qualifying matches for the
tournament, including two games against England.
Dinyar's father, Rinat, was also a professional player with Lokomotiv
Moscow and is now the club's reserve-team coach.
Evertonfc.com,
25 August 2009
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