Perugia pounce to sign Coly

AC Perugia have signed Senegalese international defender Ferdinand Coly on a free transfer.

One-year deal
The 30-year-old, who has agreed a one-year contract with the Serie A side, left Birmingham City FC earlier this month after playing just twice during a six-month spell on loan from RC Lens. Coly came to worldwide prominence with a number of impressive displays as Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.

European challenge
Perugia will compete in the UEFA Cup for the first time in 24 years after winning a UEFA Intertoto Cup, defeating German side VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 on aggregate in Wednesday's final. Perugia face Scottish side Dundee FC on 24 September and 15 October in the first round of the competition.