Go West: 8 soccer players who moved from Russia to European clubs

Keisuke Honda, Japan (PFC CSKA - AC Milan). The saga of Japanese Keisuke Honda's move from CSKA Moscow to AC Milan lasted over a year. Honda himself repeatedly hinted to CSKA that he wasn't against such a promotion, but the Russian and Italian clubs only managed to reach an agreement on the Japanese midfielder last winter. In Milan, Honda received the prestigious number 10, and scored his first goal for his new club in his second official match.

Willian, Brazil (FC Anji - FC Chelsea). The recent transfers of Brazilian Willian have entailed huge sums of money: in February 2013, Makhachkala-based Anji paid Ukraine's Shakhter €35 million for the young midfielder. However, Willian's sojourn in Dagestan did not last long: after just six months, the financial difficulties of Anji owner Suleiman Kerimov forced a whole group of star player to depart the club, including Willian. London's Chelsea acquired his services for the weighty sum of €30 million. In Jose Mourinho's side, Willian feels to the manor born - he often makes the starting lineup and generally justifies the money invested in him.

Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon (FC Anji - FC Chelsea). Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o was another player to take the Makhachkala-London route in the wake of Anji's financial troubles. The 33-year-old goalscorer is at the cutting edge of the Chelsea attack, where he competes with fellow "blue" striker Fernando Torres. However, the Cameroonian may have to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming offseason - coach Mourinho recently let slip that he needs reinforcements in the line of attack.

Kim Källström, Sweden (FC Spartak - FC Arsenal). They say that Arsene Wenger has a nose for good players, but that's clearly not the case. Swedish midfielder Kim Källström moved to Arsenal in January 2014 on loan from Spartak Moscow. During the medical examination, he was diagnosed with a back injury. However, the Gunners' boss did not cancel the deal, for which he is probably kicking himself. The Swede had to undergo treatment for two months, and only recently has begun to appear in the first team.

Aiden John McGeady, Ireland (FC Spartak - FC Everton). Having played three and a half years for Spartak Moscow, winger Aiden McGeady is remembered by Russian fans less for his exploits on the field than for the scandalous revelations about Russia he made on his return to Albion. From the Russian championship, this former player of Scotland's Celtic managed to break into the English Premier League. However, Roberto Martinez, the head coach of his current club, Everton, rarely finds a spot for the Irishman in his starting eleven.

Lacina Traoré, Cote d'Ivoire (FC Anji - FC Monaco). The 2-meter-tall Ivorian Lacina Traoré was a real star of the Russian championship. In his two seasons with Krasnodar's Kuban and Makhachkala's Anji, he netted more than 30 goals. In January this year, the rights to the giant were bought by Monaco, owned by Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev. However, Traoré has so far been unable to take the field for the Monegasque club, and is currently on loan to Everton. In England, things are not going well - his assimilation into the team is being hampered by injury.

Welliton, Brazil (FC Spartak - Celta de Vigo). The name of Brazilian Welliton is connected with many glorious moments in Spartak's history. However, the top scorer of the 2009 and 2010 Russian championships decided to return home in 2013. In Brazil, Welliton wore the shirt of Gremio and Sao Paulo, before returning to Europe in 2014. But at Spain's Celta, he is a permanent fixture on the bench.

Djibril Cissé, France (FC Kuban Krasnodar - SC Bastia). French veteran Djibril Cissé, whose stormy career has seen him traverse at least a dozen clubs, has returned to his homeland. After spells in Qatar and Russia, the extravagant Frenchman has not lost his scoring instinct. At Bastia, Cissé plays in the first team, although he won't set the world on fire.