Arsen Zakharyan won’t give up on Chelsea despite sanctions blocking his £12.6m switch from Dynamo Moscow on deadline day… as Russian midfielder denies he was prepared to change nationality to seal the move
- Chelsea activated Zakharyan’s £12.6million release clause late last month
- But sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine war meant he couldn’t move
- Chelsea would have struggled to pay Dynamo Moscow the transfer fee
- But the 19-year-old midfielder hasn’t given up on moving to Stamford Bridge
Arsen Zakharyan has not given up on his transfer to Chelsea despite the collapse of talks in the final days of the summer transfer window.
The 19-year-old midfielder wasn’t able to complete a move from Dynamo Moscow because of the British sanctions placed on Russia following their invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea and Dynamo had agreed a fee with the Premier League club activating Zakharyan’s £12.6million release clause.
Arsen Zakharyan’s £12.6m move from Dynamo Moscow to Chelsea fell through last week
Sanctions on Russia prevented the 19-year-old midfielder (right) from moving to England
However, Dynamo revealed on deadline day that the move fell through because Chelsea would have struggled to transfer the funds to the Russian club.
Russia international Zakharyan, regarded as one of the most promising talents in world football, still hopes he can make the move to London.
He told Sport Express in Russia: ‘There was an offer, but it just didn’t work out. You probably know the reasons.
‘How could I refuse? Of course, I agreed [to the move].
‘I hope everything will be fine. The next window? Maybe.
‘Of course, the level there is much higher than in the Russian Premier League, but everything is possible.
‘Maybe it would work there. I could always go on loan.’
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was keen on the Russian but sanctions prevented the move
Zakharyan shut down rumours that he was prepared to change his nationality to secure the move.
‘I didn’t intend to change anything. I was going to play there and nothing else,’ he added.
A Dynamo statement on Thursday said: ‘On August 25 we received an offer from Chelsea for Arsen Zakharyan.
‘For several days, there have been intense negotiations between Dynamo and Chelsea, in which our club…