Karagounis: Greek midfielder Giorgos Karagounis has joined Benfica from Inter on a three-year contract, the Portuguese champions said yesterday. The 28-year-old, who scored the opening goal of Euro 2004 in Portugal, was one of two players sought by Benfica's new Dutch coach Ronald Koeman to reinforce his squad. No financial details of the deal were given.
Gabri: Barcelona defender Gabri has suffered another injury blow which will put him out of action for at least a month after damaging his ankle ligaments in training yesterday. The 26-year-old, who can play on the right side of defence and in midfield, missed nearly all of last season after tearing ligaments in his right knee in September 2004. "This is a very difficult moment for a top-class sportsman," said Barcelona doctor Gil Rodas. "It is even worse because it happened just when he appeared to be completely recovered and now he's suffered another important injury."
Iceland: Charlton Athletic defender Hermann Hreidarsson is back in Iceland's squad for their World Cup qualifier against Croatia in Reykjavik on Saturday. Hreidarsson, Iceland's most experienced player, has missed the last two World Cup qualifying matches due to injury. He was also absent when Iceland beat South Africa 4-1 in a friendly earlier this month. Iceland are out of the running for a place in next year's World Cup finals in Germany, with four points from seven games in European Group Eight. Croatia top the table with 16 points, one point ahead of Sweden.
Lyon: Brazil striker Frederico Chaves Guedes, nicknamed Fred, joined Olympique Lyon from Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte on a four-year contract yesterday. Lyon, who are preparing for a Champions League campaign after winning their fourth Ligue 1 title in a row, will pay 15 million euros for the 21-year-old, club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told a news conference.
Villarreal: Uruguay goalkeeper Sebastian Viera has joined Villarreal on a four-year contract from Nacional de Montevideo. The 22-year-old, whose move to Arsenal fell through earlier this month, passed a medical and was presented to the media yesterday. Viera will compete with 21-year-old Argentine keeper Mariano Barbosa, who joined Villarreal from Banfield in June, for a place in the starting line-up. Previous first-choice keeper Pepe Reina moved to Liverpool for 9 million euros.
Celades: Former Real Madrid midfielder Albert Celades signed for Real Zaragoza as a free agent. Celades, 29, who was born in Andorra but has been capped for Spain, began his career at Barcelona and played a season at Celta Vigo before moving to Real in 2000. He left in June after completing a five-year contract.
Bouma: Dutch international defender Wilfred Bouma moved to Aston Villa from PSV yesterday for a fee of around £3.5 million. Villa said the versatile 27-year-old centre-back had joined in a three-year-deal. "I had a good feeling about Villa - with their history of being a big club," Bouma said. "Manager David O'Leary was a massive reason for my signing for Villa. I had a great talk with him and he made it clear that he believes in me."
In England: The Championship - Wolves vs QPR 3-1.