Anzhi wrap up marquee signing of striker Eto’o

Anzhi Makhachkala confirmed yesterday that they have agreed terms for the transfer of four-time African player of the year Samuel Eto'o from Inter in the highest-profile signing ever by a Russian side.

“Today Anzhi and Inter reached agreement on the transfer of Samuel Eto'o,” read a statement on Anzhi's official site. “The transfer sum suited both sides,” it added, without giving financial details.

It said that Cameroon star Eto'o will undergo a medical today and will then sign a three-year contract before starting training with the squad tomorrow.

“We will present Eto'o to our fans ahead of our next home match,” Anzhi general manager German Chistyakov told press. “We expect Samuel on Thursday to start preparations for our next match at Rostov.

“He will live in Moscow and train with the team at our base in the Moscow region.”

Anzhi travel to Rostov on Saturday before facing struggling Volga Nizhny Novgorod in their next home game on September 11.

Press reports said earlier that Anzhi will pay Inter €25 million plus performance-related bonuses for the Cameroon skipper.

It is also believed that Eto'o will receive around €20.5 million ($29.6m) a year in wages, making him the world's best-paid footballer.

Eto'o, 30, is the most decorated player in African history, having won the Champions League three times – twice with Barcelona and once with Inter.

Eto'o also won three league titles with Barca and one with Inter, while with Cameroon he has twice won the Africa Cup of Nations.

He began his career with Real Madrid before loan spells with Leganes, Espanyol and Real Mallorca, who he then joined permanently.