Dortmund swoop for Smolarek

Birmingham City FC

French strugglers SM Caen have recruited OFK Beograd midfielder Igor Matic on a three-and-a-half year contract. The 23-year-old former Serbo-Montenegrin Under-21 international is eligible to make his debut at home against AJ Auxerre this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ligue 1's second-bottom side SC Bastia have re-signed Philippe Delaye, a player they released at the end of the 2003/04 campaign, until the end of the season. The 29-year-old former Montpellier Hérault SC and Stade Rennais FC midfielder brings with him the experience of more than 200 French top-flight matches.

BV Borussia Dortmund have signed Polish international forward Euzebiusz Smolarek, 24, on loan from Feyenoord for the remainder of the season. The move follows the injury to Dortmund's Brazilian striker Ewerthon, who has been sidelined for two months with calf and ankle ligament injuries.

Having sold right-sided defender Alexander Östlund to Dutch side Feyenoord, Swedish club Hammarby have replaced him with GIF Sundsvall's 28-year-old Fredric Lundqvist. In addition, Hammarby's former player Karl-Oskar Fjörtoft has joined Norwegian outfit Aalesunds FK.

Ivan Boskovic, the 23-year-old former FK Sutjeska player, has signed a one-and-a-half year contract with Croatian side HNK Hajduk Split, and has immediately been loaned out for six months to fellow First League team NK Zadar. Boskovic said: "I have come to a big club. I will use my loan spell at Zadar to impress the Hajduk officials and then spend next season there."

FK Zemun's 29-year-old forward Milan Mester has moved on loan to Serbo-Montenegrin rivals FK Zeta. Mester is contracted to Zemun until June 2006, and the two clubs will discuss a permanent transfer in June. "I have come to an ambitious club and am expecting Zeta to qualify for next season's UEFA Cup," Mester said.

Belarussian midfielder Tsimafei Kalachou has joined Russian club FC Khimki on loan from UEFA Cup contenders FC Shakhtar Donetsk. The 23-year-old arrived at the Ukrainian Premier League club from FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk a year ago on a five-year contract, but spent the first half of 2004 on loan at FC Illychivets Mariupil.

Rangers FC defender Paolo Vanoli has returned to his native Italy to sign for Serie B side Vicenza Calcio. The 32-year-old joined Rangers from Parma FC, where he won the UEFA Cup in 1998/99, and played 35 games for the Ibrox side last season. However, Grégory Vignal's arrival from Liverpool FC limited Vanoli's opportunities and he has opted for a fresh start.

Estonian international winger Sergei Terehhov has left Finnish champions FC Haka and joined Russian Premier League side FC Shinnik Yaroslavl. The 29-year-old has signed a two-year deal and becomes Shinnik's second Estonian acquisition in quick succession after goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko arrived from SC Rotor Volgograd.

In Estonia, FC TVMK Tallinn have given goalkeeper Vitali Teleš a three-year deal after his loan spell from Tallinna Jalgpalli Klubi ended, while JK Trans Narva have signed Ukrainian midfielder Irfan Ametov from relegated FC Lootus Alutaguse.

The most active Meistriliiga club have been JK Merkuur Tartu, who have strengthened their squad in a number of areas. Ukrainian centre-back Serhiy Mitin has joined subject to a work permit being granted, while wingers Aleksandr Dubõkin and Pavel Apalinski have arrived from JK Tulevik Viljandi and FC Puuma Tallinn respectively on two-year contracts. The fourth addition is 34-year-old Belarussian goalkeeper Nikolai Grishin.