The 20-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the French club, who will compete in the first round of the UEFA Cup in September after finishing fourth in Ligue 1 last season. Apart from midfielder Julien Féret, Nancy have signed only defensive players this summer: Jean Calvé, Joël Sami and Abdeslam Ouaddou arriving along with goalkeeper Thomas Gaudu.

The 26-year-old striker has penned a four-year contract with Les Pitchounes although no details of the fee have been released. Larsen, who has six goals from ten appearances for Denmark, joined Schalke in 2005 from Djurgardens IF and proved a hit in his first season by scoring ten Bundesliga goals in just eleven starts to finish as the club's leading scorer alongside Kevin Kuranyi.

The 31-year-old former A. Académica de Coimbra player spent the latter half of last season on loan at Turkish side Manisaspor and is looking forward to a new challenge in the Spanish top flight. "Little by little I hope to help my new team when the new season starts soon," the defender said. Having finished sixth last season, Racing will enter the UEFA Cup in the first round.

Aside from trying to topple Beitar and claim the club's first title since 1983, the legendary midfielder is also aiming for a lengthy run in the UEFA Cup, with his side entering the competition in the second qualifying round. "I would like to go as far as possible with Netanya in Europe," said Matthäus, who guided FK Partizan to the UEFA Champions league group stage in 2003/04. "Domestically, I understand Beitar Jerusalem are favourites because they have a larger budget but we will still try and give them a fight."

The 30-year-old appeared in 132 Serie A games during five seasons at the Olimpico, 18 of them last season after being handed the armband. Zauri, who has been capped five times by Italy, previously played for AC Chievo Verona and Atalanta BC.

He is the Viola's eighth summer signing after Alberto Gilardino, Stefan Jovetić, Jefferson Andrade Siqueira, Felipe Melo, Juan Manuel Vargas, Gianluca Comotto and Marco Storari. Fiorentina will enter the UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round after pipping AC Milan to fourth place last term.

The 32-year-old has headed for the capital for an undisclosed fee, joining on a three-year contract after passing a medical today. Capped 17 times by France, Giuly joined Roma last summer from FC Barcelona and scored six times in 32 Serie A games as his side finished second in Serie A behind FC Internazionale Milano but won the Coppa Italia.

His three years at Camp Nou reaped two Spanish titles and a UEFA Champions League crown, having previously been on the losing side in the 2004 final during a successful spell at AS Monaco FC.

PSG have also signed Le Mans UC 72 midfielder Stéphane Sessegnon this summer and still hope to draft in Lilian Thuram ahead of their return to the UEFA Cup.

No contract details have been revealed and the 26-year-old is still to pass a medical, but Gerets could not hide his delight at finally landing a player who scored 14 goals in 30 Ligue 1 outings last term.

"I fought to get this player on board," said the Belgian. "I have to thank my directors for this transfer. Should Koné do for us what he did for Nice last season then it would be fantastic." The former FC Lorient forward joins fellow signings Hatem Ben Arfa, Hilton, Elamin Erbate and Rudy Riou at OM, who will feature in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

 The 19-year-old, who spent last season on loan with Norwich City FC, has scored seven times in U21 qualifying and hit the winner on his senior debut against Iceland in May. "[The contract] takes me up until I'm 22, so it's good to not have to worry about things for a while," he said.

The 23-year-old arrives at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez for an undisclosed fee and with previous experience of the team having enjoyed two loan spells in the Madrid suburbs. "I'd like to thank Getafe for the efforts they made to sign me," he said.

On a more positive note for the Merseysiders, Spaniard Mikel Arteta has returned to full training following surgery on a stomach injury in May. Everton have qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing fifth last season.

Becker, who took over at Karlsruhe in 2005, guided the club to an eleventh-place finish last season having won promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in 2006/07.

Defender Smith, 22, injured his ankle during training and will be sidelined for between four and six weeks, while 20-year-old striker Lafferty – a recent €3.8m signing from Burnley FC – has a back injury and will be out for ten days.

The 22-year-old has penned a four-year contract, becoming the third summer recruit for coach Francis Gillot's side after defender Jacques Faty from Olympique de Marseille and striker Francileudo Santos from Toulouse FC.

"It's good to see Jérôme settled in a side," said sporting director Pierre Dreossi, gently mocking the player's frequent changes of club. Leroy scored six goals in 31 league games last season in his first campaign with the club.

"I said beforehand we had three aims: to keep a clean sheet, score at least three goals and play attractive football. We did all of that – and a lot more besides," he said. "In fact, we could have won even more convincingly."

"We wanted to put them under pressure from the start and take an early lead because we knew that would make things easier for us," he said. "Even in the second half we were determined to score more goals." Łukasz Piszczek hit a hat-trick for the Bundesliga side.

Sporting director Fredy Bickel said: "Marco is a very talented player. We are very proud that he came through his apprenticeship with us." Zürich enter the 2008/09 UEFA Cup in the second qualifying round.

The 33-year-old former FC Spartak Moskva and FC Chornomorets Odesa player won nine domestic titles and six Ukrainian Cups during his time at Dynamo.

"Gökhan's presence will be a huge help for me," Nef said. "Everything is much easier in the beginning when there is a team-mate you know well."

The 21-year-old joined Roma from FC Paços de Ferreira last summer and went on to appear five times in Serie A in addition to making his debut in the UEFA Champions League.

The 23-year-old has joined for an undisclosed fee. "We are delighted to have signed Cícero," said Hertha coach Lucien Favre.

The club also have the option of adding another year to the deal.
West Brom's newly-promoted rivals Stoke City ruled themselves out of the running for Carson on Thursday - who could cost the club £3.75million depending on performance-related criteria.

His arrival takes the Baggies' summer spending on transfers to an initial £13.75million after the signings of Roman Bednar, Luke Moore, Do-heon Kim, Graham Dorrans, Gianni Zuiverloon and Marek Cech.

Ferguson said: "The meeting went well - I think we both put across our points of view - where we stand and where the player stands.

"I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. That's our stance - he won't be sold."

Asked why he had not commented on the matter until now, Ferguson replied: "It's not a difficult position. I was on my holiday and I was not going to interrupt my holiday, believe me. I wasn't panicked because the player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United."

"The Champions League is certainly the trophy we most want to win because Chelsea have been chasing it for a long time," he said. "I have won it with two other teams [Barca and Porto] and it would be fantastic to win it now with Chelsea."

His form over the past two seasons had been criticised by Barca president Joan Laporta, but Deco does not believe his career is heading in the wrong direction. He added: "We won many titles for two years and then it was a bit difficult. In these situations, the blame is usually attached to the more important players. But this doesn't matter to me any more: I am here now at Chelsea, who are one of the greatest clubs in the world."

The former Borussia Dortmund playmaker had hoped to be fit for The Gunners' Barclays Premier League opener against West Bromwich Albion on 16th August.

However, Rosicky needs more time to recover fully from the injury and now hopes to return in September. "I know I'll miss the start of the club season," he said. "According to plans I should be back on the field in September."

Rovers manager Paul Ince revealed at the start of the week that Villa had registered an interest in the former Arsenal winger. And O'Neill has now confirmed he had tried to sign Bentley, but has since switched his sights elsewhere after failing to agree a deal.

A report claims the FIFA World Player of the Year was the subject of discussions between the Barclays Premier League club and the Brazilian´s current employers, AC Milan, this week.

"Real Madrid offered 90 million euros (£71million) last summer and Milan did not even think about the bid," Kaka´s personal assistant Diogo Kotscho told The Guardian. "This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen."

The 22-year-old is reported to be part of a four-man deal - also including Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque - struck between Spurs and the Black Cats. Portsmouth have also been linked to the Frenchman, however, and his agent Rudy Raba insists Kaboul´s heart lies with the FA Cup winners.

Raba said: "Younes wouldn´t join Sunderland even if there was an earthquake. We have more interesting options than Sunderland. I can tell you for sure that he´s going to stay in England next season and, at Portsmouth, you are more watched."

Pulis smashed the club´s transfer record to bring in the 28-year-old striker from Reading for £5.5million and Kitson is the Potters´ first signing of the summer as they prepare for life back in the top flight after an absence of 23 years.

"I think he´s a natural goalscorer with great ability, while he´s one that will work his socks off for the team," said Pulis.

Stefanovic, 33, joins the club on a two-year deal while Omozusi arrives at Carrow Road on a season-long loan.

Roeder told the club´s official website: "It´s great to bring in two players with Premiership experience and their arrival is part of our squad rebuilding ahead of the new season."

The exit of the 31-year-old World Cup winner - a member of the 2003/2004 ´Invincibles´ side - to Greek side Panathinaikos came a day after unsettled Alexander Hleb finally got his wish in a move to Barcelona.

With the combative Mathieu Flamini having also left on a free transfer to AC Milan at the end of last season, Wenger is facing up to the task of rebuilding the heartbeat of a team which set the early pace in the Barclays Premier League last season before eventually fading out of the title race.

The 25-year-old is understood to be close to sealing a season-long loan move to the JJB Stadium from Zamalek with a view to a permanent deal next summer.

"Zaki will return home on Saturday after passing the medical," his agent Mohamed Saied told www.filgoal.com.

The 28-year-old is expected to sign for the Rams, subject to a medical, after discussing personal terms with Derby chairman of football Adam Pearson.

United manager Kevin Blackwell said: "We have agreed a figure with Derby and Rob has travelled to speak to them."

The 28-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to become Potters boss Tony Pulis´ first summer signing.

Pulis told the club´s official website, www.stokecityfc.co.uk: "I think he´s a natural goalscorer with great ability, while he´s one that will work his socks off for the team."

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed United have made a bid for Berbatov and eventually expects the deal to go through.

Spurs have also been angered by the comments of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who went public last week by revealing the Republic of Ireland captain as a target.

Sampdoria, who will enter the 2008/09 UEFA Cup first round, have been searching for a right-back since off-loading Christian Maggio to SSC Napoli and Cristian Zenoni to Bologna FC earlier this summer.