FC Spartak Moskva have signed Brazilian defender Antônio Géder from FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast as they prepare for the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Upward momentum
The 28-year-old centre-half will change sides after the two Moscow clubs agreed a deal today. The Recreio-born player spent five seasons with CR Vasco da Gama before joining Saturn at the start of the 2003 Russian campaign. He established himself as one of the Premier-Liga's best centre-backs, with many urging the Football Union of Russia to classify Géder as a Russian citizen in order to get him into the national team. Geder was captain at Saturn, for whom he scored three goals in 85 appearances.