Hleb: Belarus international midfielder Alexander Hleb agreed to join Arsenal from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart on a long term contract. The premier league club said the deal, which is subject to a medical and the player obtaining a work permit, could cost the them about 15 million euros. Hleb, 24, has made 137 appearances in his five years with Stuttgart and has played 18 times for Belarus.
Torres: Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has told English champions Chelsea that Spain striker Fernando Torres is not for sale. "Abramovich should forget about Torres. Fernando is an Atletico player and will continue to be for many years," Cerezo said. Torres has stated he is not interested in a move and wants to fulfil his contract which runs out in 2008.
Legs market: Business was down at Mexico's so-called legs market this year, where the country's top clubs gather to buy and sell footballers in a hectic day of wheeling and dealing. The Mexican FA said 59 transactions took place during trading at a hotel in the city of Pachuca, worth 116.7 million pesos ($10.80 million). A spokesman said this compared to 89 transactions worth 227.8 million pesos ($21.09 million) in the same event last year.
Quick decision: Japan want to make an early decision on where to base the team for next year's World Cup. Frankfurt, Cologne and Dortmund have been mentioned as possible candidates and Japan FA chairman Saburo Kawabuchi said he wanted to decide by August. "We would like to take advantage of the fact Japan qualified for the World Cup early," Kawabuchi told reporters. "Convenience will be the most important factor."
Everton: Danish international defender Per Kroldrup has completed a £5 million transfer from Udinese to Everton. The 25-year-old, who has made 13 appearances for Denmark, will help strengthen Everton in their first season in the Champions League after spending four years in Italy at Udinese.
Midfielder Bruno Cheyrou has joined Girondins Bordeaux from Ligue 1 rivals Olympique Marseille, Bordeaux said yesterday. Cheyrou, who still officially belongs to Liverpool, joins on loan for a year and Bordeaux have an option to buy him after that. The 27-year-old, who has won three caps for France, left Liverpool for Marseille last year and experienced a frustrating season. At Bordeaux he will be re-united with former Liverpool team-mate Vladimir Smicer. The Czech midfielder left the European champions this month. The Ligue 1 season kicks off on July 30.