Zhirkov signs short-term deal with Khimki

Khimki have signed defender Yuri Zhirkov after he underwent a medical examination with the club. His contract will run until the end of the season, with the option of a one-year extension.

Zhirkov has been a free agent since his contract at Zenit St. Petersburg expired last summer. Khimki become his sixth Russian club after he began his career with Spartak Tambov, before moving on to CSKA Moscow in 2004, where he won the UEFA Cup the following year. 

After a two-year spell at Chelsea he returned to the RPL with Anzhi Makhachkala before moving on to Dynamo Moscow in 2013 for three years. A five-year swansong at Zenit garnered plenty of silverware to leave him as the country’s most decorated footballer as a five-time Russian champion, six-time Russian Cup and Russian Super Cup winner, UEFA Cup winner, as well as Premier League, FA Cup and Charity Shield champion in England.