Lokomotiv Moscow sign Corluka

Lokomotiv Moscow have announced the signing of Vedran Corluka from Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee.

The Croatia international, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, has penned a three-year contract with the Russian outfit.

“I am very pleased that we have managed to strengthen the team with high-profile player like Corluka,” the head of Lokomotiv’s selection department, Cyril Kotov, told the club’s official website.

“Vedran is one of the leaders of the Croatian national team. This is a top-level defender with great decision-making and excellent physique.

“In addition to his defensive play, Corluka is able to initiate attacks as he has a good vision.

“A lot of European clubs would have liked to sign Vedran but he choose in our favour and this helped in our negotiations with Tottenham.”

Corluka’s move to Moscow will see him reunited with Slaven Bilic, who stepped down as Croatia boss after the country’s Euro 2012 campaign.

The versatile defender arrived at White Hart Lane from Manchester City in 2008 but fell down the pecking order this season and was loaned to Leverkusen during the January transfer window.

However, the Bundesliga outfit decided against making the move permanent, allowing Lokomotiv to step in and sign Corluka for a reported five million euros.