Omonia add coveted Avraam

Cypriot champions AC Omonia have pulled off a transfer coup with the signing of Apollon Limassol FC's Andreas Avraam.

The left-winger, who has also been deployed at full-back for Cyprus, has agreed a four-year deal. Omonia's second high-profile summer recruit after Congolese striker Lomana LuaLua, the 23-year-old Avraam was the inspiration behind Apollon's Cypriot Cup triumph last season alongside Argentinian striker Gastón Sangoy, who has since departed for Real Sporting de Gijón. Avraam originally joined Apollon in 2006/07 from Omonia Aradippou and made his senior international debut last year.

Omonia describe Avraam's arrival as "part of the club's philosophy to invest in Cypriot footballers" – having persuaded the likes of Michalis Konstantinou, Elias Charalambous, Konstantinos Makridis, Efstathios Aloneftis and Georgios Efrem to return to the island while also adding local talents such as striker Demetris Christofi and goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides. Attempting to become the third consecutive Cypriot club to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage, Omonia face FK Renova in Skopje next Tuesday having won the home leg of their second qualifying round tie 3-0 this week.

Apollon, meanwhile, are in Friday's UEFA Europa League third qualifying round draw and vice-chairman Pavlos Aristodemou explained their decision to let Avraam go. "We understand the concerns of the fans and it was expected that they would not welcome his transfer," he said. "Apollon have specific targets but in order to compete for them we are forced to raise capital."