Corluka joins Lokomotiv Moscow

Moscow - Lokomotiv Moscow football club announced Wednesday they have signed Croatian defender Vedran Corluka from Tottenham Hotspur on a three-year deal.

Corluka arrives fresh from his country’s Euro 2012 exit, finishing third in Group C behind Spain and Italy.

He made 81 appearances for Tottenham since joining in 2008 but spent the latter half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen.

“Vedran is one of the leaders of the Croatian national team,” Lokomotiv’s website quoted transfer chief Kirill Kotov as saying. “This is a versatile defender of the highest class.”

Kotov said many other clubs had vied for the 26-year-old’s signature.

It is the Russian side’s first signing since Corluka’s compatriot and national team coach Slaven Bilic was named as manager.

Bilic signed a three-year contract with Lokomotiv last month and will replace the fired Portuguese coach Jose Couceiro after Euro 2012.