Ukrainian rivals seal Dnipro deals

Shevchuk and Rotan
Recently crowned champions Shakhtar have re-signed Ukraine left-back Vyacheslav Shevchuk, while runners-up Dynamo have landed midfielder Ruslan Rotan. The country's two leading clubs get the 2005/06 campaign under way when they compete for the Ukrainian Super Cup on 9 July.

Happy to return
"I am happy to return to Shakhtar as they will be playing in the Champions League this season," said Shevchuk, whose new team enter in the third qualifying round. "Shakhtar made the kind of offer that cannot be refused. I like the system deployed by the Shakhtar coaching staff, it suits me and I believe I can be a success."

Russian spell
Before joining Dnipro, the 26-year-old spent three seasons in Russia with FC Shinnik Yaroslavl having previously played for FC Metalurh Zaporizhya and Shakhtar. He has been capped three times by Ukraine and follows international colleague Vyacheslav Sviderskiy, the 26-year-old captured from FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast, to Donetsk.

Down to action
Meanwhile, Rotan becomes Dynamo's first arrival of the summer. "After prolonged negotiations, Dnipro and Dynamo have reached an agreement for Rotan's transfer," said a Dnipro statement. The 23-year-old has linked up with his new team-mates for pre-season training in Crimea and fulfils a boyhood ambition in signing for the club.

Thun test
Rotan had played for Dnipro since 1998, scoring ten goals in 104 league games. He has eight caps and two goals for Ukraine, and will hope to feature in Dynamo's Champions League second qualifying round tie against Switzerland's FC Thun. The legs will be played on 26/27 July and 2/3 August.