Chelsea have completed the signing of Serbia international Branislav Ivanovic on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The 23-year-old defender joins from Lokomotiv Moscow for a reported fee of £9 million and is the club’s second January signing following France star Nicolas Anelka.

Ivanovic will add depth to Avram Grant’s defence as he can operate at right back – a problematic position for the club in recent seasons – centre back or as a defensive midfielder.

After starting his career with Sremska Mitrovica, Ivanovic enjoyed a stellar rise as he impressed with OFK Beograd before moving to Lokomotiv in summer 2006.

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Spending just 18 months in the Russia capital, Ivanovic caught the eye for both club and country as he starred in the European Under-21 Championship in Holland in June and cemented his place in the senior Serbia side, partnering Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic under former coach Javier Clemente.

Ivanovic had been linked with a possible move to United, but Stamford Bridge has proved to be his destination and the young defender is excited by the opportunity to shine in England.

“It is the dream of every footballer to want to move on and improve yourself, and the ultimate is to play for such a big team as this,” Ivanovic told the club’s official website.

Ivanovic joins a former team-mate on Chelsea's books as Slobodan Rajkovic - currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven - also played in defence for Serbia in the European Under-21 Championship.