Giedrius Arlauskis has joined Russian titleholders FC Rubin Kazan from FC Unirea Urziceni on a three-year deal.

The Lithuanian international goalkeeper, 22, has switched for a reported €2m fee as Rubin strengthen their goalkeeping options with doubt surrounding the future of No1 Sergei Ryzhikov. "This transfer will help both me and Unirea," he said. "I'll play in a strong league for a team that have won back-to-back titles. It's a big challenge."

Arlauskis moved to Unirea from FC Šiauliai in January 2008, winning the 2008/09 Romanian championship and catching the eye in the UEFA Champions League last term. Rubin enter Europe's elite club competition in the group stage. Unirea, meanwhile, must overturn a 4-1 UEFA Europa League deficit against HNK Hajduk Split next Thursday to advance from the play-offs, having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round by Russian Premier-Liga leaders FC Zenit St. Petersburg.