Mönchengladbach pick up Moore

Former Rangers FC captain Craig Moore has completed his long-awaited move to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Australian international has signed an 18-month contract with the German side and is reunited with former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat, who took the helm at the Bundesliga strugglers in November.

SC Freiburg have signed promising left-back Andreas Ibertsberger from SV Austria Salzburg for an undisclosed fee as they attempt to shore up their leaky defence. Freiburg have conceded 38 goals in their first 17 league games and hope the 22-year-old Austrian international can help lift them off the bottom of the Bundesliga.

Georgian defender Mate Gvinianidze has signed a five-year contract with Russian champions FC Lokomotiv Moskva. The 18-year-old is a relative unknown, even in his native country where he played in the regional league, although he does have three international caps at Under-19 level.

Swedish international Andreas Johansson has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Wigan Athletic AFC, a side currently bidding for promotion to the English Premiership. The 26-year-old midfield player has been a dominant force at Djurgårdens IF since signing from AIK Solna in 2000 and should boost Wigan's push to enter the top flight for the first time in their history.

In Scotland, Heart of Midlothian FC have signed striker Lee Miller on loan from Bristol City FC until the end of the season. The 21-year-old has struggled to claim a regular place at Ashton Gate since a €430,000 move from Falkirk FC last year. Meanwhile, Dundee United FC have signed defender Lee Mair from Stockport County FC. The 24-year-old, who formerly played for city rivals Dundee FC, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Tannadice.

RKC Waalwijk have signed 19-year-old Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen on loan from AFC Ajax for the remainder of this season. Vermaelen, who made his senior debut for Ajax in February 2004, is a youth international comfortable playing in central defence or on the left flank. At the same time, Waalwijk have allowed Jochen Janssen to join FC Den Bosch on loan for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old striker remains under contract to Waalwijk until 1 July 2006.

Former Estonian international Erko Saviauk has broken the Estonian transfer record, after completing a €10,000 move from FC Flora to city rivals FC TVMK Tallinn. The versatile defender, who becomes the most expensive player to switch from one Meistriliiga outfit to another, has signed a three-year deal with last season's runners-up after ten years at Flora.

Elsewhere in the Estonian capital, league leaders FC Levadia Tallinn have signed 16-year-old striker Kaimar Saag on a three-year deal. The Estonian Under-17 international is considered one of his country's biggest striking talents and Levadia had to fight off competition from Flora to capture the youngster from Viljandi SK.

Finally, having released their coach Elshad Akhmedov, Azerbaijan's MTK Araz Imishli have signed two new players in Azeri Under-21 international forward Murad Agakishiev and midfield player Zeynal Zeynalov. They may yet be joined at the club by Serbo-Montenegrin player Ognen Lakic and Slovenian Selvad Kuzhovic, both of whom are currently on trial.

On a busy day in Malta, Nigerian striker Chris Oretan has returned to Valletta FC 18 months after leaving the club. The 24-year-old replaces Serbo-Montenegrin forward Nemanja Vukasinovic, who has decided to return home, and will sign a contract that keeps him at the Maltese Premier League leaders until June 2006. Meanwhile, Maltese U21 international Mauro Brincat has left Hamrun Spartans FC and signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Floriana FC, who have allowed goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri to join champions Sliema Wanderers FC on an 18-month loan.