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Hélder Sousa given APOEL chance

Hélder Sousa has become APOEL FC's first signing of the new year as the Cypriot title holders prepare to meet Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

APOEL are the first Cypriot side to make it to the round of 16
APOEL are the first Cypriot side to make it to the round of 16 ©Getty Images

APOEL FC have made Olympiakos Nicosia FC's Portuguese midfielder Hélder Sousa their first signing of the year as they prepare for their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against Olympique Lyonnais.

The 34-year-old has agreed an 18-month contract, with local reports suggesting a fee of €90,000 was paid for his release. Hélder Sousa has scored four goals in 44 league games for modest Olympiakos since moving to Cyprus in 2010. Once a trainee at SC Braga, he spent the bulk of his career in the Portuguese lower leagues with AD Ovarense, Gondomar SC, CD Feirense, FC Vizela and CD Trofense.

APOEL made national history as they finished top of a UEFA Champions League group featuring FC Zenit St Petersburg, FC Porto and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Ivan Jovanović's side are the first team from the island to reach the round of 16, where they visit Lyon on 14 February before hosting the return on 7 March. They lie third in their domestic league after Sunday's surprise defeat by Alki FC.