Zenit seal incredible €50m deal for Hulk

Zenit St Petersburg last night completed the sensational capture of Brazilian forward Hulk from FC Porto on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be €50 million.

Hulk is believed to be a long-time target of Chelsea but the Russian giants have ended speculation linking him with a Stamford Bridge move after confirming the swoop on their website last night.

The 26-year-old made a huge impact at Porto after joining from Tokyo Verdy in 2008. But the Brazil international had long been linked with a new challenge, with his agent admitting earlier in the summer that the “time was right” for the player to move on.

Zenit continued an extraordinary day in the transfer market by adding Belgium international Axel Witsel to the signing of Hulk.

The 23-year-old midfielder signed for Benfica from Standard Liege last summer in a €7m deal and quickly became a key player at the Portuguese club.

But it is believed that Benfica were unable to hold onto their prized asset after Zenit put together an offer which reportedly met the player’s €40m release clause.

Fenerbache, meanwhile, have completed the signing of Raul Meireles from Chelsea on a four-year deal.

The midfielder had struggled to force his way into the starting XI this season and manager Roberto Di Matteo deemed the Portuguese as surplus to requirements.

Meireles started 37 games for the Blues last season after arriving from Liverpool on the final day of last August’s transfer deadline day.

Paris St Germain have completed the signing of Gregory van der Wiel from Ajax on a four-year deal.