The 21-year-old is expected to become City's record signing but admitted it was tough to leave his Russian club.

"There is a hard moment for every player -- when you have to leave a club which is dear to you," he said.

He added: "CSKA is nothing less than a large family. I understood it quite well when I was injured, and every member of Army club was giving moral support to me.

"I spent two exciting years at CSKA. During this time I kept improving myself and my name became known in Europe.

"I would like to thank the CSKA president Evgeny Giner for his care of players and especially for every support I was given at CSKA.

"Many thanks to the head coach Valery Gazzaev who helped me to raise the level of my performance."