Nelsen: Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen has signed a new five-year deal which ties him to the Premier League club until 2012, said its website. The 29-year-old New Zealand defender arrived at Ewood Park on a free transfer from MLS side DC United in January 2005.
Iraqi in England: Iran World Cup defender Hossein Kaebi has joined English side Leicester City on a two-year contract. Leicester confirmed Kaebi's transfer from Iranian side Persepolis FC yesterday, the 21-year-old right-back telling his new club's website: "I have always wanted to play in Europe and Leicester have given me that opportunity."
Reo-Coker: England Under-21 captain Nigel Reo-Coker has completed his £8.5 million pounds move from West Ham United to Premier League rivals Aston Villa. The midfielder becomes manager Martin O'Neill's first close-season signing, the club said.
Portsmouth: Stade Rennes midfielder Arnold Mvuemba has finalised a permanent transfer to Portsmouth, the Ligue 1 team said on their website. The 22-year-old, who joined the English Premier League club on loan in January, has signed a three-year contract.
Real Madrid: Spanish champions Real Madrid named former Racing Santander coach Miguel Angel Portugal as their new technical secretary yesterday. Real said that Portugal, a former coach of Real Madrid's reserve team Castilla, will work under sporting director Predrag Mijatovic.
Coleman: Real Sociedad's new coach Chris Coleman has said he will use local-born players and products of the youth team set-up to help steer the Basque club back into the top flight next season. "The most successful campaigns in the history of Real Sociedad have been based around Basque players and I will be looking to the youth team and reserves for the core of my players," Coleman told a news conference yesterday.
Robben Island footballers: The soccer-playing former inmates of South Africa's notorious Robben Island prison will receive a special honour from FIFA, the sport's world governing body announced yesterday. FIFA President Sepp Blatter will grant honorary membership status to the Makana FA, which was formed by prisoners on the island during the apartheid era, as part of the festivities to mark the 89th birthday of Nelson Mandela, Robben Island's most famous captive, on July 18.
Di Michele: Italy striker David Di Michele has joined Torino from Serie A rivals Palermo. Palermo announced the transfer on their website but did not disclose the fee or the length of the player's contract. Last week Di Michele, 31, was one of four players charged with illegal betting by the chief prosecutor of the Italian Football Federation. If found guilty, he faces a ban of between three months and three years.
U-20 World Cup: Japan and Nigeria booked their places in the KO stages of the U-20 World Cup with victories against Costa Rica and Scotland on Wednesday. Japan and Nigeria lead Group F on six points with their rivals both without a point after two games. In Group B, Spain beat Zambia 2-1 and Uruguay edged Jordan 1-0 to put them on course for the next phase.