Benayoun bound for West Ham

Israeli international midfield player Yossi Benayoun has joined West Ham United FC from Real Racing Club Santander for €3.6m subject to a work permit. The 25-year-old, who has signed a four-year contract with the newly-promoted English Premiership outfit, scored 21 goals in 101 games during three seasons for the Primera División side. "I know other clubs were interested in me but I was very impressed when I met the people at West Ham," said the former Maccabi Haifa FC and Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC player. "I also think my qualities will suit their style of play." Meanwhile, West Ham winger Matty Etherington, 23, has agreed a new four-year contract.

Australian international striker John Aloisi has joined Deportivo Alavés on a two year contract from CA Osasuna. The 29-year-old former R. Standard de Liège, Amberes and US Cremonese player touched down in Spain in 2001 following spells with Coventry City FC and Portsmouth FC in England.

Serie A newcomers Genoa 1893 have signed Dutch international André Ooijer from PSV Eindhoven for an undisclosed fee. The 31-year-old defender joined the Dutch champions in 1997, winning three Eredivisie titles in eight seasons, and played seven times in the UEFA Champions League last season as Guus Hiddink’s side reached the semi-finals. Ooijer is the third major signing for the Serie B champions after goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and Marjan Markovic.

NEC Nijmegen have signed central defender Jonas Olsson from Swedish outfit Landskrona BoIS for an undisclosed fee. The towering 22-year-old has agreed a four-year deal with the Eredivisie side after impressing in the Allsvenskan following his first-team breakthrough two years ago. Olsson has since earned the club captaincy and has missed just one game this season as Landskrona battle against relegation.

FC Nantes Atlantique have allowed Paraguayan international defender Julian Caceres to join Brazilian side Clube Atlético Mineiro on a one-year loan. The 25-year-old moved to the Ligue 1 outfit a year ago from Club Olimpia Asunción but played only 12 league games as the Canaries narrowly avoided relegation.

Another player leaving the French top-flight temporarily is midfielder Renauld Connen who is joining Ligue 2 side Grenoble Foot 38 on loan for a season from AC Ajaccio. Connen appeared 20 times in the league last season for Rolland Courbis’ side, who he joined from AS Monaco five years ago.

Scottish Premier League side Livingston FC have completed the signing of Belgian defender Harald Pinxten. The 27-year-old former R. Antwerp FC player has agreed a three-year deal with the Almondvale club having impressed on trial during Livingston’s pre-season tour of Italy.

Hibernians FC forward Andrew Cohen has been named Maltese Player of the Year at the fourth Malta Football Awards ceremony, less than a month after collecting the Maltese Football Association Footballer of the Year accolade. The 24-year-old Maltese international also picked up the striker of the year award, while Nigerian team-mate Essien Mbong was voted best midfielder as well as winning best foreign player. Former Maltese international Mario Muscat, another Hibernians player, won the goalkeeping category and Sliema Wanderers FC’s Brian Said was the recipient of the defence award. Sliema coach Edward Aquilina was honoured with the best coach award for a third season running.