Thatcher heads south to Fulham

Welsh international Ben Thatcher has moved from Manchester City FC to Fulham FC for a €700,000 fee. The 29-year-old left-back was keen to leave Manchester for family reasons and with City's other left-back Stephen Jordan having returned to full fitness, manager Kevin Keegan allowed the unsettled player to return home to London.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Swiss international Bernt Haas has had his contract terminated at West Bromwich Albion FC. The 26-year-old right-back had been on the transfer list and manager Bryan Robson decided it was better for him to be released, saying: "For Bernt's international future I feel he needs first-team football."

Meanwhile, French side AS Saint-Etienne have signed Tunisia defender Alaeddine Yahia on loan from Southampton FC for the rest of the season. The 23-year-old has not appeared in the Premiership since signing from Ligue 2 side EA Guingamp last summer, but he will have the option of another year with St Etienne if his initial loan spell is successful.

In Spain, Málaga CF have strengthened their attack by taking striker Jorge López 'Tote' on loan for the rest of the season from Real Betis Balompié. The 26-year-old has hardly figured for Betis since being signed on a five-year deal from Real Madrid CF in 2003. He scored four goals in 18 appearances last season but has not played once this term.

In the Netherlands, ADO Den Haag have sold one goalkeeper and signed another, with FC Twente's 27-year-old Cees Paauwe coming in to replace 29-year-old Jim van Fessem, who has joined De Grafschaap. Paauwe has signed an 18-month deal at Den Haag, while Van Fessem - who joined the club from SBV Vitesse last summer - will spend the rest of the season at De Grafschaap, whose first-choice goalkeeper Rob van Dijk is sidelined by a knee injury.

Across the border in Germany, DSC Arminia Bielefeld have completed the signing of midfield player Roberto Pinto on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has agreed an 18-month deal with the club, having been without a club since leaving Hertha BSC Berlin last summer. Meanwhile, Bradley Carnell has left VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach to join 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC on a free transfer.

Aberdeen FC midfield player Steve Tosh has completed his move to third division side Gretna FC. The 31-year-old has made 20 first team appearances for the Scottish Premier League side this season but opted for the security of a more lucrative long-term contract with the Raydale Park club.

Struggling Danish Superliga club Herfølge BK have signed Bosnian right winger Bojan Tardic on a six-month contract. The 24-year-old joins on a free transfer from Bosnia-Herzegovnian Premier League FK Borac Banjaluka.

Finally, former Belarus and FC Spartak Moskva midfield player Vasili Baranov has joined Russian third division side FC Ryazan-Agrokomplekt on a free transfer. The 32-year-old, who won four Russian titles with Spartak, spent the 2004 season with FC Alania Vladikavkaz but made no first-team appearances.