Ailton accepts Qatar offer

SV Werder Bremen

Tempting offer
Qatar hope the recruitment of the Brazilian will help their hopes of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Ailton himself had previously hoped to make the Brazil squad and had at one time expressed his interest in playing for Germany. However, a €1m signing-on fee and a further €400,000 per year have proved sufficiently tempting. "I will fly to Qatar after [Sunday's] match against TSV 1860 München and sign the contract," said the 30-year-old, who will join FC Schalke 04 in the summer.

Roda reinforcement
Eredivisie side Roda JC have signed attacker Iwan Redan from RKC Waalwijk. The 23-year-old striker, who has scored eight goals in 18 league games this season, has moved on loan until the end of the season.

Stabæk signing
Norwegian side Stabæk IF have signed Icelandic international Veigar Pall Gunnarsson from KR Reykjavík."Veigar is the type of attacking midfield player or attacker that our side needs", said Stabæk coach Gaute Larsen.

Extra year for Alves
Brazilian defender Daniel Alves has extended his contract with Sevilla FC until June 2009. Alves arrived in Sevilla on loan in summer 2002 and in January the Andalusian club exercised their option to buy him from Esporte Clube Bahia in a €848,000 deal. The 20-year-old's original contract ran until June 2008 but the player and club have now agreed to add an extra year to the arrangement.

Zomer extension
Another 20-year-old, the FC Twente defender Ramon Zomer, has extended his contract with the Enschede club until 2007. Zomer's previous deal was due to expire this summer but his performances this season - since making his debut last August the youth-team graduate has established himself in Rene Vandereycken's side - earned him the new contract.

Shirko signed
Former FC Spartak Moskva and Russia striker Aleksandr Shirko has joined FC Shinnik Yaroslavl on a free transfer. The 26-year-old, who has six caps and one goal for Russia, played for FC Torpedo Moskva after leaving Spartak in August 2001, and was due to join FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast this pre-season but the move fell through.