Everton's Diniyar Bilyaletdinov completes Spartak Moscow switch

Everton winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has completed his move to Russian side Spartak Moscow.

The former Lokomotiv Moscow signed after sorting personal terms with Spartak, bringing an end to his 29-month stay at Goodison Park.

"We wish him well. It didn't quite work," said Everton manager David Moyes of the 26-year-old.

Bilyaletdinov failed to make a major impact after joining for £10m from Lokomotiv Moscow in August 2009.

Everton's priciest signings

  • Marouane Fellaini: £15m from Standard Liege, September 2008
  • Yakubu: £11.25m from Middlesbrough, August 2007
  • Diniyar Bilyaletdinov: £10m from Lokomotiv Moscow, August 2009

"He was a great boy to work with, a really good professional," added Moyes. "When he played he was totally committed and he did everything he could to succeed.

"You could probably ask every manager in the Premier League about players and I can think of some clubs you could ask about a lot of players but, yes, Bily's been in here and not quite reached what we wanted. But I couldn't fault anything that he did - he is a good lad."

Spartak are understood to have paid a fee in the region of £5m.

Bilyaletdinov has won 39 caps for his country and scored nine goals in 77 appearances for Everton but had been on the fringes of their first team this season.

Moyes has been searching for a central defender to cover an injury crisis, while Everton's chronic shortage of goals and attacking threat has also put a new striker on his radar.