Good news for Chelsea; Armenian bank to aid move for teenage playmaker

Chelsea paying the money to sign Arsen Zakharyan will be settled by an Armenian bank

According to Sports.ru (h/t Football.London), Chelsea paying the money to sign Dinamo Moscow midfielder Arsen Zakharyan will be settled by an Armenian bank. Paying money through a Russian bank was an issue before.

The player will also fly to Armenia next month to apply for Armenian citizenship. What it will do is make the process easier for him to obtain the UK work permit. There’s no talk of him changing sports citizenship though, so he will play for the Russian national team in the future.

Since the summer transfer window, Chelsea have been linked with a move for Zakharyan but had issues regarding work permits and getting the transactions through because of the sanctions imposed on Russia due to the situation there between the Russians and Ukraine.

The Armenian bank getting this deal through, along with potentially Armenia offering him citizenship would be classed as a big step in the 19-year-old completing his move to Chelsea in the near future. There is a £12.6m buyout clause that needs to be activated for the Blues to sign him.

The Russia international is an attacking midfielder who can operate as a central midfielder or as a winger. This season, he has scored three goals and assisted six in 20 appearances in all competitions for Dinamo Moscow. He is considered one of the best upcoming talents in European football.

Chelsea have spent good money buying young players in the summer transfer window. Co-owner Todd Boehly has a ‘Vision 2030‘ plan to sign the best young players and groom them to play at the elite level for the club in due course of time.

Zakharyan already looks ready to come in and challenge for a spot in the senior team. If not, he could start playing for the youth team and slowly graduate.

More Chelsea News:

• Father of Rafael Leao entertains questions on his son’s future as a transfer blow to Chelsea
• Eden Hazard dismisses the possibility of returning to Chelsea in the summer
• Real Madrid planning a January move for Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta

But first, let’s get him to the Bridge as soon as possible. This saga has gone on for too long now.