Jordi joins Bacca at Club Brugge

UEFA Europa League hopefuls Club Brugge KV have bolstered their defence by signing Spanish defender Jordi Figueras, sealing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the 24-year-old.

The left-footed Jordi has been playing on loan at Rayo Vallecano but was registered with Club Brugge's fellow UEFA Europa League contenders FC Rubin Kazan, who he joined from RC Celta de Vigo in 2001. He made just eight league appearances in Russia before being loaned to Real Valladolid and, this season, Rayo Vallecano, where he has played in 17 league games.

Earlier in the week, Club Brugge signed Colombian international striker Carlos Bacca from Junior de Barranquilla on a deal set to last until the summer of 2015. The 25-year-old is known in Colombia for his strength and pace, and was voted his country's player of the year last season after his goals helped Junior win the 2011 closing championship.

"I am delighted to have joined a big club like this and am looking forward to getting to know my team-mates and proving they have a new friend and a good player," said Bacca, who will wear the No7 shirt at Club Brugge. "I want to be successful here – this club is always competing for honours and I want to play a part in that."

One player who will not be contributing towards any Club Brugge victories for at least two months is midfielder Vadis Odjidja. The 22-year-old, who has made 19 First League appearances for the third-placed side this term, has undergone surgery to have floating cartilage removed from his right knee.

Odjidja faces an eight-week lay-off, rendering him unavailable for the Bruges outfit's UEFA Europa League round of 32 trip to German team Hannover 96 on 16 February and the return leg a week later.