Zenit Signs Rondon from Rubin Khazan.

Zenit Saint Petersburg have signed Venezuelan striker Jose Salomon Rondon from fellow Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan.

He is the first black player to sign for Zenit since their biggest fans group said this in an open letter in December 2012:

“The absence of black Zenit players is just an important tradition that underlines the team’s identity and nothing more.”

He has rather been Rubin’s only source of goal this season with 12 from 19 games.

Jose Salmon Rondon Joins Zenith. © AFP 2013/ KURT DESPLENTER
Jose Salmon Rondon Joins Zenith. © AFP 2013/ KURT DESPLENTER

He joins fellow black players Axel Witsel and Hulk at the four times Russian champions.

Rondon has 12 goals in 35 games for Venezuela and helped take his country to the semifinals of the 2011 Copa America.

Three players have already departed Rubin this winter since longtime coach Kurban Berdyev was fired last month and replaced by the relative unknown Rinat Bilyaletdinov amid rumors of financial problems.