Soccer / Football : Russia : Premier League 2011

Lokomotiv Moscow have brought in defender Andrei Eshchenko on a three-and-a-half year deal from Volga Nizhny Novgorod. Eshchenko, 27, arrives for an undisclosed fee and joins fellow recent signings Maksim Grigoryev and Yan Tigorev as Lokomotiv continue to strengthen their squad during the winter break. He had moved to Volga in August after loan spells at Dinamo Moscow, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Arsenal Kyiv during his time at Dynamo Kyiv. The former Russian Under-21 international made 12 appearances for Volga this season and coach Dmitri Cheryshev admitted he is sad to see him leave. "It is a great pity that we have lost such a useful player," he said. "Andrei adapted quickly here and became a real engine of the team."

Carlos Eduardo is expected to be sidelined for four more months after learning he needs an operation on his troublesome knee. The Brazilian midfielder has played just six Russian league games since a reported €20m move from Hoffenheim in August 2010, after seriously injuring his right knee. Doctors initially ruled out surgery, but the latest medical advice has recommended an operation. Eduardo has not appeared for Rubin since November 2010.

Lokomotiv Moscow have signed Russia Under-21 midfielder Maksim Grigoryev on a three-and-a-half-year contract. The 21-year-old arrives from MITOS Novocherkassk, having spent 2011 on loan at Rostov where he played 29 league games. Grigoryev has appeared three times in Russia's 2013 UEFA European U-21 Championship qualifying campaign.

Rubin Kazan have completed the signing of Iranian international goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi from Persepolis. The 23-year-old has joined the Russian Premier League club on a four-year contract. The deal is reportedly worth €950,000. Haghighi, who has spent the entirety of his career with Persepolis, became the first Iranian to ever play in the Russian Premier League.

Dynamo Moscow have completed the signing of Hungary international Balazs Dzsudzsak from Anzhi Makhachkala for an undisclosed fee. Dzudzsak had joined Anzhi from PSV for a fee in the region of €14 million in the summer of 2011, but the winger failed to make an impact at the Dagestan side, partially due to a shoulder injury that kept him out of action for several weeks. The 25-year-old attacker will now be looking to relaunch his career at Dynamo. Dzsudzsak has signed a contract until January 2016 with his new club.

Hungary international Balazs Dzsudzsak has joined Dynamo Moscow on a four-year deal from Russian league rivals Anzhi Makhachkala. Media reports put the transfer fee for the 25-year-old midfielder at around €15m. Dzsudzsak became the second player to leave the wealthy club, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, after Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli was sold to Qatar's Al-Gharafa for a reported €7m fee last week.

CSKA Moscow have signed Ahmed Musa from VVV-Venlo for a fee of €5 million. The 19-year-old winger has impressed since making his first-team debut back in October 2010, and has broken into the Nigeria senior squad, winning 12 caps. "This is the next step in my career," he told Venlo's official site. "When I arrived in Venlo a year and a half ago, I didn't dare to dream I would earn this transfer this soon. I'm very happy VVV gave me the chance to show the world what I can do. Now I can do that on a bigger stage."