Pitmen unearth new Brazilian jewel

Brazilian Douglas Costa has signed a five-year contract with UEFA Cup holders FC Shakhtar Donetsk after the Ukrainian club paid Grêmio FBPA €6m for the 19-year-old attacking midfielder.

Time to settle
Having played twice for Brazil at last year's FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Egypt, Douglas has passed a medical and joins fellow countryman Alex Teixeira, signed from CR Vasco da Gama, as Shakhtar's second signing of the winter. "Our coach [Mircea Lucescu] selects players according to his footballing philosophy, and Brazilian players suit it more than others," explained Shakhtar general director Serhiy Palkin. "He knows that Brazilians need time to adapt to European football. This was the case with every player from Brazil that has joined us." Two points adrift of Premier League leaders FC Dynamo Kyiv, and facing a Ukrainian Cup semi-final against FC Metalurh Donetsk in the spring, Shakhtar meet Fulham FC in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 on 18 and 25 February.