Soccer Briefs...

Hinkel: Sevilla have signed VfB Stuttgart's right-back Andreas Hinkel on a four-year contract, the UEFA Cup winners said. The 24-year-old German international, who spent the past six seasons with Stuttgart, becomes the Primera Liga side's second close season signing after Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen. He will be officially presented on Monday. Hinkel's arrival could hasten the departure of Brazilian right-back Daniel Alves, who has stated he wants to leave for Liverpool.

Arsenal Cleared: England's FA has cleared Arsenal of breaching the rules governing the ownership of clubs after a television report linking the London club with Belgium's Beveren. BBC's Newsnight programme reported that a police probe in Belgium had concluded that the Premier League club, losing Champions League finalists this year, had secretly paid Beveren £1 million. The North London club confirmed a technical relationship with Beveren since 2001 but denied controlling the club.

In Scotland: Scottish Premier League champions Celtic begin the defence of their title with a home game against Kilmarnock on July 29. New Rangers manager Paul Le Guen has been handed a Sunday match away to Motherwell on the following day for his first competitive game in charge. The first clash between the two rivals is scheduled at Celtic on September 23.

Kaka: Brazilian midfielder Kaka has extended his contract with Milan until 2011. Kaka, 24, joined Milan from Sao Paolo in 2003. He is a key member of the Brazilian World Cup team which has reached the second round in Germany.

Torres: Atletico Madrid have no intention of selling Spain striker Fernando Torres and have instead offered to extend his contract for a further year, according to president Enrique Cerezo. Torres, 22, has been linked with moves to England and Italy as well as to city rivals Real Madrid. "We haven't changed our position: Torres is not for sale," Cerezo said. "We have made our intentions clear by offering him another year on his contract. Even if he doesn't sign it he has a contract with us until 2008."