Aris sign Castillo, Sakata and Pereira

Aris Thessaloniki FC have signed Japanese striker Daisuke Sakata while taking FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Nery Alberto Castillo and Parma FC's Danilo Pereira on loan for the rest of the season.

Sakata has agreed an 18-month contract with the Greek Super League club, who recently parted company with coach Héctor Cúper. Capped once by Japan in 2006, the 28-year-old scored 47 goals in 247 top-flight games with Yokohama F-Marinos, winning two national titles and one League Cup.

Mexico forward Castillo has joined on a six-month loan, with his career having stalled somewhat since he left Olympiacos FC for Shakhtar in 2007. The 26-year-old has had loan spells with Manchester City FC, FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Chicago Fire since.

Castillo said: "I am coming to a big club like Aris with a great hope of playing good football. For me this constitutes an opportunity to return to Greece and show what I can do. I will give everything for Aris to achieve their goals in Greece and Europe."

Portugal Under-19 midfielder Danilo Pereira has also arrived on loan until the summer, with the teenager looking to make his first senior professional appearances in Greece's top flight.

Tenth in the 16-team Super League, Aris meet Manchester City in the UEFA Europa League round of 32, with the tie kicking off in Salonika on 15 February.