Branislav Ivanovic Signs

[EskWeston 696]

Chelsea Football Club today (Wednesday) completed the transfer of defender Branislav Ivanovic from Lokomotiv Moscow. He signed a three-and-a-half year contract.

Ivanovic, 23, becomes Avram Grant's second January signing following the arrival of Nicolas Anelka.

The Serbian international is a versatile addition to the squad. He can play right back, centre back or defensive midfield.

Having begun his career in his native Serbia at local club Sremska Mitrovica, he soon moved to the Serbian capital Belgrade to play for OFK Beograd where he remained for three seasons, signing for Lokomotiv in the summer of 2006. He appeared for the Russian side in this season's Uefa Cup.

A star of Serbia's Under 21s in both the 2006 and 2007 European Championships, Ivanovic was voted into last summer's Uefa Team of the Tournament, and has successfully graduated into a regular for the full national side.

He made his Serbia and Montenegro debut in June 2006, and is now a regular in the Serbian line-up alongside Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic. He has nine caps and has scored once.

'It is the dream of every footballer to want to move on and improve yourself - and the ultimate is to play for such a big team as this,' Ivanovic said after completing his Chelsea move at Stamford Bridge today.

Chelsea TV will be carrying the first interview with the club's new defender in Blues News at 6.30pm, repeated at 10pm.

To subscribe to Chelsea TV on Sky Digital channel 421 call 08700 240 490. Existing Sky customers can subscribe through the Sky Products area on Sky Active via their Sky remote control.

Source: Chelsea FC

[BlueLion. 21,491]

He wears the number two shirt, according to the website. He can play as an anchor midfielder which is great. I hope this means on occassions we may get to see Mikel and Essien played further afield.

[EskWeston 696]

He wears the number two shirt, according to the website. He can play as an anchor midfielder which is great. I hope this means on occassions we may get to see Mikel and Essien played further afield.

Yup it's certainly possible, although i would have though that would be rare considering his primary positon is defence and we have 3 players capable of playing the defensive midfield role already.