Spartak Moscow signed Armenian midfielder Aras Ozbiliz from fellow Russian Premier League side FC Kuban on Friday, R-Sport reported.

The 23-year-old, a product of Ajax Amsterdam's youth academy, was a sensation last season in his first campaign with Kuban, scoring nine goals and setting up two more in 22 games as the team secured Europa League qualification for the first time.

The playmaker “has already signed a long-term contract with Spartak,” his new club said without revealing any further details of the deal.

Spartak's website statement announcing the signing showed Ozbiliz with the club's general director Roman Askhabadze, who Thursday told R-Sport his club was not trying to sign the player.

Ozbiliz has started this season on a flyer with two goals in Kuban’s first two games. He is unlikely to be available for Spartak's trip to Moscow rivals Dynamo on Saturday. Spartak lead the league after two games as they try for a record 10th Russian title.

Ozbiliz has scored three goals in nine appearances for Armenia and becomes the second Armenian international at Spartak after U.S.-raised striker Yura Movsisyan.

The midfielder had also been linked with Russia's Anzhi Makhachkala and Turkey's Besiktas, who are from Istanbul, the city of his birth.



