Zenden seals Middlesbrough move

Boudewijn Zenden was the biggest name on the move on a day when a number of clubs were involved in transfer activity as the deadline to sign players moved increasingly closer.

Loan deal
The Netherlands international midfield player, who has won 45 caps for his country, has left free-spending Chelsea FC to join fellow Premiership side Middlesbrough FC on loan for the rest of the season.

Midfield reinforcements
The 27-year-old joined Chelsea from FC Barcelona two years ago, but struggled to hold down a regular first-team place and would have found his first-team options further limited by the recent signings of Damien Duff, Geremi, Juan Sebastián Verón and Joe Cole.

One-year move
Another high-profile player involved in a season-long loan is French midfield player Stéphane Dalmat, who has joined another English side, Tottenham Hotspur FC, from Internazionale FC. Despite suffering a number of injury problems, the 24-year-old made 25 appearances last season as Inter finished in second place in Serie A.

Mallorca to Madrid
In Spain, meanwhile, Ariel Ibagaza has finally completed his protracted move to Club Atlético de Madrid from RCD Mallorca. The 26-year-old Argentinian midfield player, who had been due to make the move earlier in the summer, has agreed a three-year deal with the Primera División club, with the fee undisclosed.

'Great club'
"I'm really happy that everything has been sorted out at last," he said. "I'm joining a great club, with the best fans and all the ingredients are present for everything to go well."

Afek signed
Primera División side Real Racing Club Santander have signed a fourth Israeli player, with midfield player Omri Afek signing a one-year contract. The 24-year-old, who had been out of contract with Hapoel Tel-Aviv, follows goalkeeper Dudu Awat, who recently joined Racing from Maccabi Haifa FC.

Successful trial
Slovakian international Milan Temko has signed for Superligaen side Aalborg BK, agreeing a four-month contract with the Danish club after impressing on a trial. The 30-year-old defender has won 29 caps for Slovakia.

Unexpected transfer
In Poland, Jacek Ziarkowski has surprisingly left MKS Odra Wodzislaw Slaski to join Turkish Super League side Malatyaspor, signing on a one-year loan with the option of a permanent contract. The 28-year-old forward, who scored 14 goals for Odra last season, was also on target in the Ekstraklasa last weekend against Widzew Lódz.

Welcome return
Another surprising move saw Krzysztof Gajtkowski return to GKS Katowice after an unsuccessful spell at KKS Lech Poznan. The 23-year-old forward had moved to Lech from Katowice in the winter transfer window last season.

Defensive support
In Scotland, Dundee United FC have signed Chris Innes, with the 27-year-old defender joining for a fee of €75,000 from Kilmarnock FC and agreeing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Scottish Premier League's bottom side, who have lost their first three league games of the season.

Muscat on the move
Elsewhere in Scotland, Australian international defender Kevin Muscat has left UEFA Champions League competitors Rangers FC to sign for English first division outfit Millwall FC. The 31-year-old full-back, whose first-team chances have been limited this season, was released from his contract ten months early, having joined Rangers on a free transfer in July 2002 and helped the club win the domestic treble in his first season.