MOSCOW, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Lokomotiv Moscow have signed Malian international striker Draman Traore to boost their squad ahead of the UEFA Cup round of 32 and the new Russian season.

The 23-year-old striker will join his new club for pre-season training in January ahead of the start of the Russian season next spring. The UEFA Cup resumes after the winter break on February 15.

Traore was joint top scorer in Tunisia with nine goals for Club Africain.

'The agreement with the 23-year-old footballer was sealed for five years,' the club said in a statement on their website, without revealing the transfer fee involved, although uefa.com reported it as 1.0 million pounds ($1.77 million).