Southampton turn to Camara

Southampton FC

France's Olympique de Marseille have signed Japanese international midfielder Koji Nakata on an 18-month contract. The transfer fee for the 25-year-old Kashima Antlers player was not disclosed. As a non-European Union player, Nakata will be unable to represent his new club for at least a fortnight pending approval of his contract by the French football authorities.

Serie A side AC Siena have signed Romanian international Alin Stoica on a free transfer after the midfielder was released by Club Brugge KV last month. The 25-year-old has agreed a contract until June, with the Tuscan club then having the possibility of keeping him for another 12 months. Siena have also announced the capture of Brazilian right-winger Alberto, 29, on loan from Udinese Calcio until the season's end.

Former Portuguese international Abel Xavier has inked a five-month contract with AS Roma after a one-week trial. The 32-year-old defender has not played since leaving German side Hannover 96 at the end of last season. Roma also announced that defender Luigi Sartor has left the club to join Serie B outfit Genoa 1893 on loan.

Struggling English Premiership side West Bromwich Albion FC have signed English Under-21 international midfielder Richard Chaplow from Burnley FC. Chaplow, 20 on Wednesday, has inked a three-and-a-half year contract with an option for a further season after the clubs agreed a €2.16m fee.

Arsenal FC have loaned 22-year-old winger Jermaine Pennant to Birmingham City FC until the summer. The English Under-21 international had agreed to join Birmingham last week, but the move broke down due to Pennant's personal circumstances. His contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the season.

Birmingham have also landed 26-year-old midfielder Mehdi Nafti on loan from Real Racing Club Santander for the remainder of the campaign. Racing themselves have turned to RC Recreativo de Huelva for 25-year-old goalkeeper Antonio Rodríguez Martínez, who has accepted a contract until June 2010.

Spanish international midfielder Javier De Pedro has moved to Italian Serie B side AC Perugia on a free transfer. The 31-year-old left Real Sociedad de Fútbol for Blackburn Rovers FC last summer, but failed to impress in England and joins Perugia for the remainder of the campaign.

In Portugal, Vitória SC have recruited Brazilian striker Diogo on a six-month contract. The 21-year-old, without a club since leaving Sweden's Kalmar FF last year, will have the option of prolonging his stay with the SuperLiga team for three more seasons.

Germany's Hannover 96 have signed 27-year-old forward Veljko Paunovic, who was a free agent after leaving Club Atlético de Madrid earlier this month. Paunovic has penned an initial six-month deal. Hannover have also allowed striker Mohammadou Idrissou, 24, to join French club SM Caen and midfielder Ricardo Sousa, 26, to move to Dutch outfit De Graafschap, both on six-month loans. In addition, De Graafschap have taken centre-back Glenn Loovens, 21, on loan from Feyenoord till the season's end.

Primera División side Albacete Balompié have secured the services of Uruguayan striker Horacio Peralta on loan from FC Internazionale Milano until the end of the season. The 22-year-old had been playing for Cagliari Calcio but managed just one Serie A appearance this term.

Dutch outfit RBC Roosendaal have reached an agreement with Fulham FC to take Elvis Hammond on loan for the rest of the campaign. The 24-year-old Ghanaian forward has been with the English club since 1999.

In Greece, Panionios NFC have acquired midfielder Kostas Kiassos on a free transfer from Spain's CD Numancia. The 29-year-old has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract. Panionios have also captured 21-year old Albanian forward Hamdi Salihi from KS Vllaznia on a three-and-a-half year deal.

Former Greek international Alekos Alexandris has signed a one-year deal with Kallithea FC after leaving second division Larissa FC. The 36-year-old striker won three league titles with AEK Athens FC in the early 1990s, and added a further seven championships after moving to Olympiacos CFP.

Panathinaikos FC right-back Alain Raguel has joined Halkidona FC on loan until June. The 28-year-old was signed by Panathinaikos last summer but has yet to appear for the club.

Croatian international midfielder Ivan Leko has joined HNK Hajduk Split on a one-and-a-half year deal. Leko, 26, was released by Spanish side Málaga CF last week, and becomes Hajduk's second major signing of the winter following the addition of international team-mate Niko Kranjcar.