Portuguese midfielder Maniche has joined Chelsea on loan until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old will renew his partnership with Jose Mourinho, with whom he worked at Benfica and Porto.
“Chelsea today completed the loan signing of Portugal international midfielder Maniche,” said a statement on the club’s official website.
“The 28-year-old joins until the end of the season from Dynamo Moscow. He has not played in European competition this season so is eligible for UEFA Champions League action.”
Maniche is a straight replacement for Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien who is expected to be out of action for several weeks after picking up an ankle injury in the Premier League clash against West Ham.
Last summer Maniche moved to Dynamo Moscow for a Russian record transfer fee of €10m along with Porto team-mate Costinha.
Maniche recently revealed: “I have had offers from other big European teams but obviously once Chelsea became interested, there was only one team.
“I would be crazy to turn them down, because of the manager and because I have known some of the players there for years.
“Mourinho is the key to me signing, he has been after me for some time. He is my maestro. He knows me from my time at Porto and Benfica.
“My greatest moments in football I owe to him and I hope to repeat this success at Chelsea.”
Mourinho last week said: “Maniche could become a historic player in my career, the only one to play under me at three different clubs – Benfica, Porto and Chelsea.
“He would be the final piece to give stability in a key sector.”
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