Zenit bag Danny

The midfielder cost the Russian champions 30 million euros (£23.9m), eclipsing the previous record set by Dinamo themselves when they paid 16 million euros for Danny's compatriot Maniche from Porto in 2005.

Zenit boss Dick Advocaat said: "We've been interested in Danny for a while now. I consider him the best midfielder in the Russian league and he can become a very useful member of our team.

"I see Danny as an attacking midfielder or winger."

But Advocaat was quick to deny Danny's arrival in St. Petersburg signalled the end of the club's association with Russian international Andrei Arshavin, currently linked with a move to Tottenham.

He said: "Andrei is still with Zenit, and I am still not sure if he is going away."

Danny, 25, was born in Venezuela but moved to Portugal when he was 15 and qualifies for the Portuguese national side. He made his international debut last week when he came on as a substitute in the 5-0 friendly against the Faroe Islands.

The former Sporting Lisbon man will now contend for a place in the Zenit line-up to play European champions Manchester United in the UEFA Super Cup final in Monaco on Friday.