Helguson: Bolton Wanderers will complete the signing of Fulham's Iceland striker Heidar Helguson within the next 24 hours after agreeing a three-year contract with the player. Bolton announced that Helguson had passed a medical on Thursday and would join the club for an undisclosed fee. "I like Helguson a lot," said Bolton manager Sammy Lee. "He has a great work ethic and understands the demands of the Premier League."
African Cup: The draw for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals will be held in Accra on Oct. 19. The 16 finalists - comprising hosts Ghana, the 12 qualifying group winners and three best second-placed sides - will split into four groups for the tournament, to be staged from Jan. 20 to Feb 10 next year. Qualifying ends in October.
Vieri: Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has signed for Fiorentina on a one-year deal, the Serie A side confirmed yesterday. Vieri, 34, had been looking for a club since his release by Atalanta at the end of the season and will now try to fill the boots of Luca Toni, who has left for Bayern Munich. The much-travelled Vieri was let go by Atalanta after making just seven appearances in an injury-hit year, and media reports have said many Fiorentina fans are unhappy with coach Cesare Prandelli for signing him.
Mido: Birmingham City have agreed a club-record 6.0 million pounds fee for Tottenham Hotspur striker Mido. Birmingham had been linked with a loan move for the Egyptian international but instead pushed for a permanent deal, although this remains subject to the 24-year-old Mido agreeing personal terms. Mido, the African Young Player of the Year for 2002, has played previously for Zamalek, Ghent, Ajax, Celta Vigo, Marseille and Roma in an itinerant career.
Extra drink: Arminia Bielefeld coach Ernst Middendorp was fined 24,900 euros ($34,380) by a state court and will lose his driver's licence for another eight months for failing a breathalyser test in April after his relegation-threatened club won a key match. The Guetersloh police said Middendorp's blood-alcohol level was found to be above the legal limit. Middendorp - tested after an eyewitness saw him trying unsuccessfully to park a car - kept his job and Bielefeld remained in the Bundesliga.
Helguera: Valencia have signed Spain centre-back Ivan Helguera from Primera Liga rivals Real Madrid. The 32-year-old negotiated a release from his contract with the Spanish champions, which still had a year left to run, and signed a three-year deal with Valencia. Helguera, who has been capped 47 times for Spain, won three league titles and two European Cups after joining Real from Espanyol in 1999.
Duscher: Racing Santander have signed Argentina midfielder Aldo Duscher from Deportivo on a two-year contract, the Primera Liga club said. The 28-year-old, who spent seven seasons with Depor, hit the headlines in April 2002 when he broke a bone in David Beckham's foot during a Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford, almost putting the England midfielder out of the World Cup.
Juve friendlies: Juve said in a statement they would visit Hamburg for a pre-season friendly on August 1. They already have games against Newcastle (July 29) and Sunderland (August 4) as part of a tour.
Friendly matches: Auxerre vs Liverpool 0-2; Hansa Rostock vs Ostrava 0-1; Hearts vs Heracles 5-1; Hannover vs Twente 3-1; Sochaux vs Legia Warsaw 0-0; Macclesfield vs Stoke 1-1; Steaua Bucharest vs Charleroi 1-1; Exeter vs Port Vale 1-1.