Anzhi Makhachkala have signed 23-year-old winger Georgy Gabulov for $4.5 million from Alania Vladikavkaz, both clubs confirmed Friday, the day the Russian transfer window closes.
Gabulov was the captain of second-tier Alania and is the younger brother of Russian international goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov, whom Anzhi signed from CSKA Moscow last month.
On Saturday, "the younger Gabulov will join up with the team where his brother plays,” Anzhi said on their website.
Alania president Valery Gazzaev, who coached Alania and CSKA to four Russian titles, said that the money from Gabulov’s transfer would help his present club become self-sufficient.
“We’re obviously sad that one our leading players has left Vladikavkaz. But importantly, that was the desire of the player himself, who we can’t offer a contract on the same terms that Anzhi can,” Gazzaev told Russian newspaper Sport-Express.
Georgy Gabulov has appeared three times for the Russia under-21 side. He started his career at Lokomotiv Moscow before joining then-Premier League side Alania in 2008, initially on loan, and scored 11 goals in 74 games for the club.
Anzhi are seventh with 52 points in the Russian Premier League, six points off third-placed Dynamo Moscow, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
Since billionaire Suleiman Kerimov bought the club in January 2011, Anzhi have signed a number of foreign stars, including Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o in July.
