Ajax steal Silva from Groningen

AFC Ajax have signed Bruno Silva from FC Groningen, who have replaced the Uruguay right-back with Sepp De Roover from Sparta Rotterdam.

Training no-show
Silva has made a €3.75m move to the Amsterdam side, agreeing a four-and-a-half year contract. His exit from the Eredivisie's fifth-placed team to its second, was inevitable after he failed to report for training after the winter break.

Quick cover
Groningen moved swiftly to cover the departure of the 27-year-old by landing De Roover from struggling Sparta for an undisclosed fee. The Belgian defender, 23, arrives on a two-and-a-half year deal, with the option of another two seasons.

Uruguay connection
Silva will link up with compatriot Luis Suárez at Ajax. He had joined Groningen in 2005 from Danubio FC and played 68 Eredivisie matches for the northern club. Capped three times by his country, he also had a short spell in Russia with FC Rostov in 2004.

Ever-present
De Roover has already featured at Groningen's Euroborg Stadium, representing the Belgium Under-21s at last summer's UEFA European U21 Championship. A product of the PSV Eindhoven youth system, he was loaned to second-division FC Groningen before transferring to Sparta in summer 2006. He was ever-present for the Rotterdam outfit last term as well as in their 19 games so far this season.