UEFA Europa League transfer round-up
mercoledì 31 agosto 2011
Intro articolo
UEFA.com rounds up the UEFA Europa League transfer news, which included Stoke City FC breaking their transfer record for Peter Crouch and Diego joining Club Atlético de Madrid on loan.
Contenuti top media
![Peter Crouch was one of three late acquisitions by Stoke Peter Crouch was one of three late acquisitions by Stoke](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0254-0d7d546eb8ef-1782dfe5c6c2-1000/format/wide1/peter_crouch_england_.jpeg?imwidth=158)
Corpo articolo
Club Atlético de Madrid have completed the loan signing of Brazilian attacking midfielder Diego from VfL Wolfsburg. The 26-year-old, who has been capped 33 times, has agreed to spend the 2011/12 campaign at the Vicente Calderón where he will team up with recently appointed coach Gregorio Manzano. "Diego is a player with great technical quality, excellent vision and plenty of goals," said Manzano of the former Juventus playmaker.
Atlético also brought in Portugal Under-21 forward Pizzi fromSC Braga, with midfielder Fran Mérida moving in the opposite direction. Both players have joined on year-long loan deals. Mérida, 21, said: "I'm extremely happy to be here and I want to bring something good to the side." Braga have also brought in Mexico U20 midfielder Edson Rivera from Académicos for an undisclosed fee.
Stoke City FC secured a late triple swoop on deadline day, bringing in Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios from Tottenham Hotspur FC as well as Cameron Jerome from Birmingham City FC. Crouch, who signed a four-year deal, joined for a club record fee that could rise to €13.5m. "The future is bright for Stoke," said the 30-year-old England striker. "The club is really moving in the right direction and looking forward to doing big things now."
Former Spurs team-mate Palacios links up with Crouch in the Potteries having moved for an undisclosed fee. The Honduran international, 27, has also put pen to paper on a four-year contract. "He has great energy and the qualities to become a driving force in the middle of the park," said manager Tony Pulis. Jerome, meanwhile, likewise moved for undisclosed terms and committed to last season's FA Cup runners-up for the next four seasons.
Fulham FC also conducted late business on Wednesday, with Bryan Ruiz moving to west London from FC Twente. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, a Costa Rican international, will stay at Fulham until at least 2015, though there is the option for a further year. "I'm really happy to be joining Fulham Football Club and playing under Martin Jol, who is a manager I admire from his time in Holland for Ajax," said Ruiz.
Jol also increased his defensive options at Fulham by landing Czech Republic defender Zdeněk Grygera on a free transfer. The 31-year-old, who left Juventus on Tuesday by mutual consent, has penned a 12-month deal with the option for a further year. Striker Orland Sá has also joined the Cottagers on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal.
Earlier in the day, Tottenham announced the capture of Scott Parker from West Ham United FC. Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year last season, the England midfielder could nevertheless not prevent West Ham's relegation from the Premier League. Parker, 30, lists Chelsea FC and Newcastle United FC among his other former clubs.
Impressed by his displays in their play-off defeat of HJK Helsinki, FC Schalke 04 have signed Teemu Pukki on a three-year contract. The Finland striker, 21, scored both goals in HJK's 2-0 first-leg win and was also on target in the return, a 6-1 loss in Germany. "He showed in both games against us what he is capable of," said Horst Heldt, the Schalke sporting director. Mario Gavranović has left for Bundesliga rivals 1. FSV Mainz 05 on a season-long loan.
Midfielder Leroy Fer has moved from Feyenoord to FC Twente for an estimated fee of €5m. Fer, a product of the Feyenoord youth academy, has signed a three-year contract with the Enschede side, with the option of a further season. "Feyenoord have given me a fantastic upbringing," said the 21-year-old. "I will never forget that. My heart is bleeding, but there comes a point when it is time to look elsewhere."
FC Dynamo Kyiv have brought in Cruzeiro EC midfielder Dudu and CA Deportivo Cali forward Andrés Ramiro Escobar on five-year deals. Dudu, aka Eduardo Pereira Rodrigues, scored three goals in 31 appearances for Cruzeiro. He was a member of the Brazil squad which won the FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier this month in Colombia, scoring vital goals as a substitute. Escobar, 20, broke into the Cali team in May 2010 and played 30 league games for the Colombian outfit.
Moroccan international forward Youssouf Hadji has returned to Stade Rennais FC after a €2m switch from AS Nancy-Lorraine. The 31-year-old has agreed a two-season deal with an option for a further 12 months at the club he left in January 2007 for Nancy. Meanwhile, Rennes have loaned Dutch youngster John Verhoek to ADO Den Haag for the season, where he links up with brother Wesley.
Udinese Calcio have signed 20-year-old CA River Plate winger Roberto Pereyra for a reported fee of €2m. Pereyra, who impressed in Argentina's run to the FIFA U-20 World Cup quarter-finals, has agreed a five-year contract with Udinese. Francesco Guidolin has also brought in goalkeeper Daniele Padelli, 25, on loan from Serie B side UC Sampdoria and attacking midfielder Gabriel Torje from FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti for an undisclosed fee.
Torje, who has signed a five-year contract with the Serie A club, joined Dinamo from FC Timişoara in 2008 and played more than 100 league games for the capital side. Nicknamed the 'Romanian Messi', the 21-year-old has played ten games for his country, scoring once. Torje has already played for Dinamo in the competition this season.
Malmö FF have signed Allsvenskan top scorer Mathias Ranégie from BK Häcken. Ranégie, 27, has 18 goals in 22 games this season. The one-time IFK Göteborg player was also courted by league leaders Helsingborgs IF. "I like Malmö's style of play better than HIF's, and Malmö's autumn also looks more interesting," said Ranégie. "The European games meant a lot when I decided on Malmö."
Uruguay centre-back Diego Lugano has signed a three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain FC after moving from Fenerbahçe SK for a reported fee of around €3.5m. A 2010 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist with Uruguay, Lugano leaves Fenerbahçe after five seasons and said: "A new era begins in my career. PSG are a very ambitious side and I'm happy to be here, to be part of their challenge." PSG have brought in a raft of players this summer including Mohamed Sissoko, Jérémy Menez and Javier Pastore.
Brazilian international midfielder Elías has been unveiled as Sporting Clube de Portugal's 16th, and most expensive, signing of the summer. Sporting paid Atlético Madrid €8.85M for the 26 year-old, who has signed a five-year contract. The former SC Corinthians Paulista player arrives in Portugal after only one season in the Spanish capital. He scored twice in 15 games for Atlético.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC will today unveil Roberto Punčec on a two-year contract from VK Varaždin. The versatile Croatia Under-21 defender, 19, passed a medical last night.