Smertin returns to Russia
Chelsea have completed a deal with Dynamo Moscow which allows Alexei Smertin to return to Russia.
The Premiership champions will receive a fee of £1m (€1.46m) for the Russian international midfielder, who has spent this season on loan at Charlton.
The transfer was complex due to the nature of the season-long loan but both Premiership clubs agreed to release Smertin from his obligations.
He had one year left on his Chelsea contract and nine weeks remaining on his loan deal at the Valley.
Charlton were unhappy with Smertin’s decision to curtail their agreement but the Russia captain wanted to be reunited with his family and take advantage of the three-year deal offered by the Moscow side.
His permanent move to Moscow was finalised on transfer deadline day for the new Russian league season which begins this weekend.
Smertin signed for Chelsea for £3.8m (€5.5m) in the summer of 2003 from Bordeaux, but immediately went on loan to Portsmouth for an entire season.
Last season he started 19 games for Chelsea, appeared as substitute six times and scored one goal, in the Champions League against Porto at Stamford Bridge. His 16 league appearances were enough to earn a Premiership winners’ medal but he lost his place in the starting line-up to Tiago and his place on the bench to loan signing Jiri Jarosik.
