Milito: Argentine striker Diego Milito will join his brother Gabriel at Real Zaragoza after the Primera Liga club agreed a two-year loan deal with Italian side Genoa. Zaragoza said they had also secured an option to buy the player at the end of the loan spell. Diego's brother Gabriel, who joined Zaragoza from Independiente two years ago, signed a five-year contract extension with the club in July.
Choutos: Greek striker Lampros Choutos has joined Real Mallorca on a season-long loan deal from Inter, the Primera Liga club said yesterday. The 25-year-old, who has been capped for Greece, played on loan at Atalanta during the second half of last season. Mallorca are coached by former Inter boss Hector Cuper.
Okocha: Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha will miss Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Algeria because of a groin injury, the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) said yesterday. "Okocha sent us a fax saying he has a groin injury and won't be available for the game," an NFA statement said. "It's a blow to our World Cup qualifying campaign but we'll fight on." Nigeria must win their remaining two matches to have any hopes of qualifying for the World Cup as they are second behind Angola on an inferior head-to-head record despite being level on 15 points.
Hearts: Scottish Premier League leaders Hearts signed Brazilian midfielder Samuel Almeida Camazzola on a season-long deal yesterday. The 23-year-old, who moves from Brazilian side Juventude, becomes the eighth signing since George Burley took charge in June. "We have said all along that to qualify for Europe we need to add depth in certain areas of the squad and this is a signing which does that," Burley told the club's website.
Wigan: Promoted Wigan Athletic signed Ireland international David Connolly from second division Leicester City for an undisclosed fee yesterday. The much-travelled striker agreed a three-year contract with Wigan after passing a medical on transfer deadline day. Connolly has scored 87 goals in 195 full league appearances for Leicester, Watford, Feyenoord, Wolves, Wimbledon and West Ham United.
In Bulgaria: The president of Pirin Blagoevgrad and has been banned from Bulgarian soccer for three years after the club was expelled from the premier league over unpaid taxes. Metodi Kalambov is not allowed to work in soccer in the country for three years, the Bulgarian Football Union's disciplinary commission said on its website. Kalambov's son Sergei, who held the club's licence, was banned for two years and the executive and technical directors of Pirin were expelled for a year. Pirin were thrown out of the premier league earlier this month and are playing in the amateur championship.
Reiziger: Former Dutch international defender Michael Reiziger signed a two-year contract with PSV Eindhoven yesterday. Reiziger will be reunited with former Netherlands team mate Philip Cocu and coach Guus Hiddink after joining the Dutch champions from English Premier League Middlesbrough. "I played with Philip for six years and contacted him when PSV showed an interest," Reiziger told the Dutch club's website. "He explained to me what I could expect and helped me make my choice. I worked under Hiddink with the Dutch team, so he knows what to expect from me."
Portsmouth: Uruguay international Dario Silva has joined Portsmouth from Sevilla for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on their website yesterday. Silva, who helped Sevilla finish sixth in Spain last season, signed a two-year contract with Portsmouth. The 32-year-old striker scored 14 goals in 34 appearances after joining the Primera Liga club in 2003. Silva has also had spells with Cagliari, Espanyol and Malaga.