Promotion play-off for Serie A

Italian play-off
From the coming season, the clubs finishing in fourth and fifth positions in Serie B will meet for a place in the top flight. However, the Italian Football Federation stressed that the team in fourth position would go up automatically if they have five points more than the next-placed team. There will also be a relegation play-off for the clubs that end the campaign fourth and fifth-bottom of the division.

Lecce loan
One team already promoted to the Italian élite, US Lecce, have signed defender Sebastiano Siviglia on loan from Parma AC. The 30-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Atalanta BC, is contracted to Parma until 2006.

Albacete boost
Spanish Primera División new boys Albacete Balompié have also reinforced their ranks, completing the transfers of Argentinian striker Gabriel Omar Amato and midfield player Iván Díaz. Amato arrives from second-division Levante UD for a season, while Díaz has agreed a three-year contract after playing for the club on loan from RCD Espanyol last term.

Metz signings
A third promoted club, France's FC Metz, have made the En Avant Guingamp midfield player Hakim Saci their third summer acquisition. Saci will link up with other new faces, Senegalese international Pape Thiaw and Samuel Allegro, at the Saint-Symphorien stadium. He has signed a one-year deal.

British moves
Meanwhile, French defender Jérôme Bonnissel has agreed a two-year contract with English Premiership side Fulham FC. Bonnissel moves from FC Girondins de Bordeaux for no fee. Scottish Premier League club Livingston FC have recruited the Jamaican international midfield player Theodore Whitmore on a one-year contract.

Stoke surprise
And former Dutch international keeper Ed de Goey has also been attracted by one of football's lesser lights. The 36-year-old custodian has joined English second división club Stoke City FC in a two-year deal.