The European domestic transfer window has reopened with the start of the new year. UEFA.com will keep you posted with stories on all the major signings involving clubs in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, while keeping track of other significant moves in this regularly updated transfer round-up.
UC Sampdoria have found a replacement for Antonio Cassano, who moved to AC Milan earlier this month, by reaching an agreement with Manchester United FC to sign 19-year-old striker Federico Macheda on loan. The Italy Under-21 international could make his debut on Sunday against AS Roma. Meanwhile, struggling ACF Fiorentina have filled the hole created by Sébastien Frey's knee injury – which is expected to rule him out for the season – by snaring Brazilian goalkeeper Norberto Murara Neto from CA Paranaense for a reported fee of €3m.
Fulham FC have secured the services of Steve Sidwell from Aston Villa FC, the 28-year-old former Chelsea FC midfielder signing an initial six-month contract with the option of a further three years. "On the pitch he can get from box to box, he works tirelessly, is good on the ball and can also get you a goal," said manager Mark Hughes. "He wants to be part of what we are doing here, and because of that he will do well for us."
Juventus have signed one-time Italian international Luca Toni from Genoa CFC on a free transfer after a torn knee ligament robbed the Turin side of striker Fabio Quagliarella for the remainder of the season. The 33-year-old Toni has committed to La Vecchia Signora until June 2012, with Quagliarella resigned to being out of action for at least six months after being taken off six minutes into Thursday's 4-1 home defeat against Parma FC.
Galatasaray AŞ have completed the signing of Argentinian midfield player Juan Culio for €2m from CFR 1907 Cluj. Culio, 27, joined CFR in 2007 and immediately helped them to the Romanian title before starting the following season with two goals in their 2-1 win at AS Roma on their UEFA Champions League debut; he returned to the competition this season following another Liga triumph. "I would like to contribute to the team as soon as possible," said Culio, under contract until summer 2014. "I was aware of the big reputation of the team and the interest shown in my was proof of this."
Defender Beg Ferati will leave UEFA Europa League contenders FC Basel for German side SC Freiburg on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer. The 24-year-old has played 51 league games for his hometown club, and said: "It was a very tough decision, but playing in the Bundesliga was a childhood dream for me. I have a chance to play for a very good club and I want to take that chance, but until my switch to Freiburg I will give everything for FCB."
Slovakian international Juraj Kucka has joined Genoa CFC on a four-and-half year deal after catching the eye during AC Sparta Praha's UEFA Europa League campaign. The midfielder, 23, scored twice in the group stage including an effort against Serie A's US Città di Palermo. His estimated €3.5m switch comes as Czech Republic defender Tomáš Zápotočný joins Sparta from Beşiktaş JK.
Kucka's arrival will help fill the gap left by the departures of midfielder Francesco Modesto (28) and forward Raffaelle Palladino (26) to Parma FC, with 23-year-old Italy defender Luca Antonelli moving in the opposite direction. Parma have also signed Spanish midfielder Tony Calvo on loan from Aris Thessaloniki FC, with the option to sign the former FC Barcelona player on a permanent basis next summer.
Feyenoord have signed Belgium defender Gill Swerts on a six-month loan deal from AZ Alkmaar with the option for a free transfer and one-year contract come the summer. Swerts, 28, was a Feyenoord youth product, joining aged 14 and making his senior debut in 2003/04 before spells at to ADO Den Haag, Vitesse and Alkmaar, who he helped to the title in 2008/09. Capped 17 times, Swerts said: "I'm Belgian, but Rotterdam feels like home: I lived there for nine years. In that time I grew up. It's good to return."
England Under-21 international Kyle Walker has joined Aston Villa FC on loan from Tottenham Hotspur FC for the remainder of the campaign. The defender heads to Villa Park shortly after completing a successful loan stint at second division leaders Queens Park Rangers FC, where he played 20 league matches.
France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa has completed a permanent move from Olympique de Marseille to Newcastle United FC for an undisclosed fee on a deal until 2015. Ben Arfa, 23, moved on loan to Newcastle in the summer but played just three league games before breaking his leg against Manchester City FC in October.
Turkey forward Kazım Kazım has made a 'dream move' to Galatasaray AŞ hours after being released by city rivals Fenerbahçe SK. "This is a new chapter in my career," said the English-born 24-year-old, who has committed to his new side until summer 2014. "They have big expectations of me and I would like to realise them."
Turkish Super League leaders Trabzonspor AŞ are not resting on their laurels either, after securing the services of Polish international twins Piotr and Paweł Brożek from Wisła Kraków until summer 2014. Another 27-year-old, forward Mehmet Çakır, has joined the Black Sea club after being released by MKE Ankaragücü.
Málaga CF have also been busy, with former Real Madrid CF, Sevilla FC and Arsenal FC striker Júlio Baptista the latest arrival at La Romareda. The 29-year-old moves from AS Roma for a reported €2m, linking up with fellow winter signings Martín Demichelis, Enzo Maresca, Ignacio Camacho and on-loan Sergio Asenjo.
SV Werder Bremen have moved swiftly to replace Beşiktaş-bound Hugo Almeida, signing highly-rated Swedish striker Denni Avdić, 22, from IF Elfsborg. He is, says Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs, "a real centre forward", and moves to Germany on a two-and-a-half year deal.
AJ Auxerre, eliminated from the UEFA Champions League prior to the Ligue 1 winter break, have acquired Korea Republic striker Jung Jo-Gook on a two-and-a-half-year deal from FC Seoul. The 26-year-old, who has scored 13 league goals this term, will provide cover for Ireneusz Jeleń, who has been out since September with a knee injury.
Marseille have strengthened their goalkeeping options with the capture of Jules Goda, 21, on a short-term deal from SC Bastia, while midfielder Grégory Proment has rejoined SM Caen until the end of the season.
David Bellion has linked up with OGC Nice on loan from FC Girondins de Bordeaux until the end of the campaign while another Ligue 1 side, Stade Rennais FC, have added RC Lens forward Abdoulrazak Boukari to their squad. Boukari, 23, who has scored three goals in 18 league appearances this term, can be used on either flank.
KS Lechia Gdańsk defender Hubert Wołąkiewicz, 25, will join KKS Lech Poznań – who have been drawn against SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 – when his contract expires on 1 July. Forward Bartosz Ślusarski has already arrived from MKS Cracovia Kraków, while winger Sławomir Peszko has swapped the Polish titleholders for 1. FC Köln until the end of the season. The 25-year-old will make the move permanent if the German Bundesliga strugglers avoid relegation.
Douglas da Silva has left Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC to join Austrian Bundesliga titleholders FC Salzburg on a five-year deal. The 26-year-old, who featured in all six of Hapoel's UEFA Champions League Group B games, has joined Salzburg for a reported fee of €2.8m following a seven-year stay in Israel.
UC Sampdoria have found a replacement for Antonio Cassano, who moved to AC Milan earlier this month, by reaching an agreement with Manchester United FC to sign 19-year-old striker Federico Macheda on loan. The Italy Under-21 international could make his debut on Sunday against AS Roma. Meanwhile, struggling ACF Fiorentina have filled the hole created by Sébastien Frey's knee injury – which is expected to rule him out for the season – by snaring Brazilian goalkeeper Norberto Murara Neto from CA Paranaense for a reported fee of €3m.
Fulham FC have secured the services of Steve Sidwell from Aston Villa FC, the 28-year-old former Chelsea FC midfielder signing an initial six-month contract with the option of a further three years. "On the pitch he can get from box to box, he works tirelessly, is good on the ball and can also get you a goal," said manager Mark Hughes. "He wants to be part of what we are doing here, and because of that he will do well for us."
Juventus have signed one-time Italian international Luca Toni from Genoa CFC on a free transfer after a torn knee ligament robbed the Turin side of striker Fabio Quagliarella for the remainder of the season. The 33-year-old Toni has committed to La Vecchia Signora until June 2012, with Quagliarella resigned to being out of action for at least six months after being taken off six minutes into Thursday's 4-1 home defeat against Parma FC.
Galatasaray AŞ have completed the signing of Argentinian midfield player Juan Culio for €2m from CFR 1907 Cluj. Culio, 27, joined CFR in 2007 and immediately helped them to the Romanian title before starting the following season with two goals in their 2-1 win at AS Roma on their UEFA Champions League debut; he returned to the competition this season following another Liga triumph. "I would like to contribute to the team as soon as possible," said Culio, under contract until summer 2014. "I was aware of the big reputation of the team and the interest shown in my was proof of this."
Defender Beg Ferati will leave UEFA Europa League contenders FC Basel for German side SC Freiburg on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer. The 24-year-old has played 51 league games for his hometown club, and said: "It was a very tough decision, but playing in the Bundesliga was a childhood dream for me. I have a chance to play for a very good club and I want to take that chance, but until my switch to Freiburg I will give everything for FCB."
Slovakian international Juraj Kucka has joined Genoa CFC on a four-and-half year deal after catching the eye during AC Sparta Praha's UEFA Europa League campaign. The midfielder, 23, scored twice in the group stage including an effort against Serie A's US Città di Palermo. His estimated €3.5m switch comes as Czech Republic defender Tomáš Zápotočný joins Sparta from Beşiktaş JK.
Kucka's arrival will help fill the gap left by the departures of midfielder Francesco Modesto (28) and forward Raffaelle Palladino (26) to Parma FC, with 23-year-old Italy defender Luca Antonelli moving in the opposite direction. Parma have also signed Spanish midfielder Tony Calvo on loan from Aris Thessaloniki FC, with the option to sign the former FC Barcelona player on a permanent basis next summer.
Feyenoord have signed Belgium defender Gill Swerts on a six-month loan deal from AZ Alkmaar with the option for a free transfer and one-year contract come the summer. Swerts, 28, was a Feyenoord youth product, joining aged 14 and making his senior debut in 2003/04 before spells at to ADO Den Haag, Vitesse and Alkmaar, who he helped to the title in 2008/09. Capped 17 times, Swerts said: "I'm Belgian, but Rotterdam feels like home: I lived there for nine years. In that time I grew up. It's good to return."
England Under-21 international Kyle Walker has joined Aston Villa FC on loan from Tottenham Hotspur FC for the remainder of the campaign. The defender heads to Villa Park shortly after completing a successful loan stint at second division leaders Queens Park Rangers FC, where he played 20 league matches.
France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa has completed a permanent move from Olympique de Marseille to Newcastle United FC for an undisclosed fee on a deal until 2015. Ben Arfa, 23, moved on loan to Newcastle in the summer but played just three league games before breaking his leg against Manchester City FC in October.
Turkey forward Kazım Kazım has made a 'dream move' to Galatasaray AŞ hours after being released by city rivals Fenerbahçe SK. "This is a new chapter in my career," said the English-born 24-year-old, who has committed to his new side until summer 2014. "They have big expectations of me and I would like to realise them."
Turkish Super League leaders Trabzonspor AŞ are not resting on their laurels either, after securing the services of Polish international twins Piotr and Paweł Brożek from Wisła Kraków until summer 2014. Another 27-year-old, forward Mehmet Çakır, has joined the Black Sea club after being released by MKE Ankaragücü.
Málaga CF have also been busy, with former Real Madrid CF, Sevilla FC and Arsenal FC striker Júlio Baptista the latest arrival at La Romareda. The 29-year-old moves from AS Roma for a reported €2m, linking up with fellow winter signings Martín Demichelis, Enzo Maresca, Ignacio Camacho and on-loan Sergio Asenjo.
SV Werder Bremen have moved swiftly to replace Beşiktaş-bound Hugo Almeida, signing highly-rated Swedish striker Denni Avdić, 22, from IF Elfsborg. He is, says Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs, "a real centre forward", and moves to Germany on a two-and-a-half year deal.
AJ Auxerre, eliminated from the UEFA Champions League prior to the Ligue 1 winter break, have acquired Korea Republic striker Jung Jo-Gook on a two-and-a-half-year deal from FC Seoul. The 26-year-old, who has scored 13 league goals this term, will provide cover for Ireneusz Jeleń, who has been out since September with a knee injury.
Marseille have strengthened their goalkeeping options with the capture of Jules Goda, 21, on a short-term deal from SC Bastia, while midfielder Grégory Proment has rejoined SM Caen until the end of the season.
David Bellion has linked up with OGC Nice on loan from FC Girondins de Bordeaux until the end of the campaign while another Ligue 1 side, Stade Rennais FC, have added RC Lens forward Abdoulrazak Boukari to their squad. Boukari, 23, who has scored three goals in 18 league appearances this term, can be used on either flank.
KS Lechia Gdańsk defender Hubert Wołąkiewicz, 25, will join KKS Lech Poznań – who have been drawn against SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 – when his contract expires on 1 July. Forward Bartosz Ślusarski has already arrived from MKS Cracovia Kraków, while winger Sławomir Peszko has swapped the Polish titleholders for 1. FC Köln until the end of the season. The 25-year-old will make the move permanent if the German Bundesliga strugglers avoid relegation.
Douglas da Silva has left Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC to join Austrian Bundesliga titleholders FC Salzburg on a five-year deal. The 26-year-old, who featured in all six of Hapoel's UEFA Champions League Group B games, has joined Salzburg for a reported fee of €2.8m following a seven-year stay in Israel.
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