NEW YORK – Former Real Salt Lake star forward Yura Movsisyan is nearing a move to newly promoted Russian Premier League club FC Krasnodar, according to sources close to the deal.
MLSsoccer.com has learned that the general terms of the transfer between the Russian team and Movsisyan’s current Danish club Randers FC have been worked out, with roughly $3.4 million changing hands. Only a few details remain, including a medical, before the official announcement is made as early as Thursday.
When contacted by MLSsoccer.com, Randers FC and Movsisyan's representative declined to comment on the news.
It was only confirmed this week that FC Krasnodar would be promoted to the Russian Premier League to replace FC Saturn, who withdrew due to financial difficulties. Movsisyan’s move was contingent on Krasnodar securing passage to the top flight after a fifth-place finish in the second division.
Krasnodar are a relatively new club, born in 2008, but they have great ambitions and are led by billionaire Russian-Armenian owner Sergey Galitsky, who Forbes magazine values at $2.9 billion.
Like Galitsky, Movsisyan is also Armenian and has become a starting forward for his native country’s national team. Movsisyan has a chance to quickly become a known commodity in Russia as Armenia are set to play the 2018 World Cup hosts in a highly anticipated Euro qualifier on March 26 in Armenia.
The Russian Premier League, which is moving to a fall-spring schedule next year, kicks off its 44-match 2011-2012 season in early March.
