FULHAM will sign Dinamo Moscow midfielder Alexei Smertin this week.

Smertin had a medical and met his new team-mates at the Cottagers’ training ground on Tuesday.

The Russia skipper joined Dinamo Moscow in March 2006 for £1million.

But the ex-Charlton man will leave the Russian strugglers for West London after being told he was not needed.

Smertin said: “It wasn’t my decision to leave Dinamo. My club informed me that they aren’t interested in me anymore.

“My agent started to work and we got offers from Charlton Athletic, West Ham and Fulham.

“At the moment only Fulham’s interest is continuing.”

After undergoing the medical, Smertin was introduced to the Fulham players.

And it seems the Russian has already bore the brunt of crocked joker Jimmy Bullard.

A Fulham insider said: “Smertin came in wearing this awful jacket. Jimmy picked up on it straight away and had the others lads in stitches.”