Middlesbrough recruit Lyon starlet

Middlesbrough FC have signed 18-year-old midfielder Herold Goulon on a three-year contract from French champions Olympique Lyonnais. "Herold is a tall, strong defensive midfielder with good technical ability," said the UEFA Cup finalists' head of academy recruitment Ron Bone. "We have high hopes of him progessing to the first team." Meanwhile, Middlesbrough are continuing negotiations with Chelsea FC's Germany defender Robert Huth.

Staying in England, Damien Francis has left Wigan Athletic FC to sign a three-year contract with promoted Watford FC. The fee for the 27-year-old midfielder, who becomes the Hornets' fifth summer signing, could rise to €2.2m. Another club preparing for life in the Premiership, Reading FC, have also been strengthening their squad today with the capture of Brentford FC defender Sam Sodje. The first division champions have paid €500,000 for the 27-year-old Nigerian.

Fulham FC have signed Hammarby striker Björn Runström on a three-year contract. The Swedish Under-21 international is the latest new face at the London club after defender Gabriel Zakuani and midfielder Jimmy Bullard.

French Ligue 1 newcomers Valenciennes FC have signed the 30-year-old Dutch defender Patrick Paauwe from Feyenoord. The Rotterdam's club's former captain has agreed a two-year contract. Paauwe, capped five times by the Netherlands, had spent eight seasons at De Kuip, where he won the 2001/02 UEFA Cup with a 3-2 victory against BV Borussia Dortmund.

ADO Den Haag have brought Stijn Vreven back to Dutch football after the 32-year-old agreed a free transfer from Cypriot club AC Omonia. "I am glad to be given the chance to end my career at a high level," said the former Belgium right-back, who is recovering from an ankle injury. "ADO are a real people's club."

NEC Nijmegen have signed 22-year-old Belgium Under-21 right-back Günther Vanaudenaerde from Club Brugge KV. He has moved to the Netherlands for an undisclosed fee and inked a contract until the summer of 2010. He played 22 league games and seven in the UEFA Champions League.

Also in the Eredivisie, Heracles Almelo were delighted to recruit MSV Duisburg midfielder Kai Michalke on a two-year deal. The 30-year-old scored 42 goals in 256 Bundesliga games for Duisburg, VFL Bochum, Hertha BSC Berlin, 1. FC Nürnberg and Alemannia Aachen.

The 54-year-old Dutchman Wim Rijsbergen has replaced compatriot Leo Beenhakker as coach of Trinidad and Tobago. Rijsbergen, who represented his country at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, was Beenhakker's assistant at this summer's finals. He will be assisted by Anton Corneal and Jan van Deinsen. Beenhakker is to lead Poland in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying.

In Spain, Gimnàstic de Tarragona have signed Alejandro Campano from RCD Mallorca while extending Manuel Ruz's loan from Valencia CF for another season. Campano, 27, has penned a two-year contract to end a five-season stay with Mallorca. Ruz, 20, stood out in midfield for Nàstic as they won promotion from the Segunda División last term.

Polish top-flight newcomers LKS Lódz have agreed a new one-year contract with Georgian international midfielder Mamuka Jikia. The 30-year-old played once for his country in the recent FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.