Feyenoord have headed off interest from rival clubs by signing Chilean midfield player Sebastián Pardo on a five-year contract.

Undisclosed fee
The Dutch club have paid an undisclosed fee to CF Universidad de Chile for the player, who had been on loan in Rotterdam until the end of the season. Pardo, 20, made headlines last month when he scored the only goal in a UEFA Champions League victory against Newcastle United FC.

Summer signing
Pardo moved to Feyenoord in the summer, with coach Bert van Marwijk having the option of completing a permanent transfer at the end of this campaign. He was initially due to spend the season with Feyenoord's nursery team, SC Excelsior, but a hat-trick in the pre-season defeat of VV Zuidland convinced the UEFA Cup winners to keep Pardo at De Kuip.