MOSCOW, June 21. /TASS/. Argentinian footballer Ezequiel Ponce has signed a long-term contract with Russia’s legendary football club Spartak Moscow, the team’s press service announced on Friday.
The press service, however, did not disclose the details of the contract with the 22-year-old Argentinian player.
Ponce has been playing as a forward for the Italian football club Roma, joining it in 2015, and was also part of the Argentina national U-20 football team.
Commenting on the transfer deal Spartak FC Director General Tomas Zorn told TASS that Ponce was personally interested in teaming up with the football club in Moscow.
"We have immediately realized that he [Ponce] was interested in joining us," Zorn said in an interview with TASS. "The guy wanted to keep developing and growing further."
"However, negotiations with Roma were not easy," Zorn continued. "But we understand the Italians because the Argentinian footballer is a young and a very promising player."
"In line with the agreement between the clubs we are not allowed to disclose the sum of the transfer contract, but I can say that the terms of the contract were particularly beneficial for Spartak FC," Zorn added.
Ezequiel Ponce began his professional career with the Argentinian FC Newell's Old Boys (2013-2015) and also played on loan for Spain’s Granada, French FC Lille and Greek football club AEK.
Playing for AEK Athens last season, Ponce booked 21 goals and four assists in 43 matches.
Throughout its almost one century-long history, Spartak Moscow FC was 12-time USSR champion, ten-time Russia champion and is the holder of other numerous titles and trophies.
The club finished fifth in the 2018/2019 season of the Russian Premier League and is scheduled to begin the next season with a match against Sochi FC on July 13.