Soccer Briefs...

Barca Sign Gudjohnsen: Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Iceland's Eidur Gudjohnsen on a four-year deal from Chelsea. Spanish media reported that the Catalans would pay in the region of 12 million euros for the striker, who will replace Henrik Larsson after the Swede decided to end his career at his home town club of Helsingborg. Gudjohnsen, who scored three goals for Chelsea last season, joined the club from Bolton in June 2000 for £4 million and helped the Londoners win the Charity Shield against Manchester United on his debut in August of the same year.

Lescott: Everton have completed the signing of defender Joleon Lescott from Wolves. Lescott, 23, signed a four-year-deal. No financial details were released. "He is someone who we have watched and watched for quite a long time," Everton manager David Moyes told the club website. "He is another young, up-and-coming player, another British lad and, from my point of view, he is the best centre-half in the Championship (second division) that I have seen. Hopefully, he will make the step up."

Alves: UEFA Cup winners Sevilla have said they are reluctantly negotiating with Liverpool to sell their Brazilian right-back Daniel Alves. "We don't want to sell him but when a player wants to leave you can't force him to stay," Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said. The 23-year-old Alves, who can also play on the right side of midfield, was part of the Brazil side that won the World Youth Cup in 2003.

Bulgarian clubs: Promoted premier league side Spartak Varna are among seven teams who have failed to meet licensing criteria to play in next season's domestic championship. Spartak Varna, five second division teams and one third division side did not meet the conditions because most of them owe money to the National Insurance Institute, football players and private persons, the Bulgaria FA Licensing Commission chief Krasin Krustev said.

Betting arrests: Eight Asian men and women were arrested by Australian police yesterday over an alleged illegal World Cup betting operation. Members of Sydney's Southeast Asian Crime Squad arrested six men from Hong Kong aged between 24 and 46 and two Malaysian women aged 22 and 23 during a swoop on a Sydney hotel. Police seized computer equipment, mobile phones, documents and more than A$20,000 ($14,600) in cash in the raid.