Atalanta turn to Choutos

Atalanta BC

VfB Stuttgart midfielder Emanuel Centurión has returned to Argentina after only 18 months with the Bundesliga club. The 22-year-old will rejoin his former side CA Vélez Sarsfield on loan until the end of the season. "I am happy for Emanuel that the deal has gone through. He needs to play games to improve as a player," said coach Matthias Sammer.

R. Standard de Liège have reached an agreement to sign striker Cédric Roussel from Russian club FC Rubin Kazan. Roussel will join Standard on loan until June 2006, when the Belgian side will have the option of signing him outright until summer 2008. The 27-year-old forward had moved to Rubin from KRC Genk last summer.

Portuguese SuperLiga outfit Boavista FC have taken forward Hugo Almeida on loan from city rivals FC Porto until the end of the season. The 20-year-old is expected to be Boavista's only capture of the January transfer window.

Former Ukrainian international midfielder Serhiy Shyshchenko has returned to FC Metalurh Donetsk after a season-long loan at FC Illychivets Mariupil. By the terms of his contract the 28-year-old will remain a Metalurh player until the end of 2005. His team lie third after the first half of the Ukrainian championship, seven points behind leaders FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Enrico Gaede has decided to drop down a division and join 2. Bundesliga strugglers SC Rot-Weiss Essen on loan until the end of the campaign. "I don't see much chance of playing in Gladbach at the moment. Therefore it is better for me to join Essen," said the 22-year-old.

Polish Ekstraklasa newcomers Zaglebie Lubin have signed former Polish Under-21 international Maciej Iwanski from second division side Szczakowianka Jaworzno. The 23-year-old midfielder has penned a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club and said: "Zaglebie are a young and promising team that can be successful in the top flight."

New PFC Litex Lovech coach Itzhak Shum has completed his first major signings. The former Panathinaikos FC trainer has raided South America for the services of 28-year-old Venezuela defender Alejandro Cichero and 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder Sandrinho. Cichero arrives from Uruguayan side Club Nacional de Football, while Sandrinho comes from Esporte Clube Juventude. Both players have agreed two-and-a-half year deals and it is believed Litex will pay around €1m for the pair. Litex Lovech have also recruited Senegalese striker Cesar Dakosta.

English Premiership side West Bromwich Albion FC have completed the signing of striker Kevin Campbell from Everton FC on a free transfer. The former Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest FC player has inked an 18-month contract.