Room for Bent at Everton

Everton FC have completed the signing of striker Marcus Bent from Ipswich Town FC for around €675,000. The 26-year-old forward, who spent last season on loan to Leicester City, has signed a three-year deal with the club.

‘Good age’
"He will give an added dimension to the squad because he can play up front and wide right," said Everton manager David Moyes. "He is a good age and he is a price that at this present time we could afford." The signing of Bent comes after Canadian striker Tomasz Radzinski turned down the offer of a new contract.

Ricketts released
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Middlesbrough FC have agreed to let centre-forward Michael Ricketts join relegated Leeds United AFC on a free transfer pending a medical. The 25-year-old, who scored just four goals in 38 appearances for Middlesbrough following his move from Bolton Wanderers FC in January 2003, has agreed a three-year contract with the Elland Road club.

Three-year contract
Meanwhile, Birmingham City FC have completed the signing of 24-year-old Julian Gray from newly-promoted Crystal Palace FC on a free transfer. The midfield player has signed a three-year contract.

Depor exit
RC Deportivo La Coruña, who will play in the UEFA Champions League next season, have released central defender Goran Djorovic despite the 32-year-old Serbo-Montenegrin still having a year left on his contract. Djorovic joined Deportivo from neighbours RC Celta de Vigo during the 2001/02 campaign and spent last season on loan in the Segunda División at Elche CF.

Arminia signing
Newly promoted German Bundesliga side DSC Arminia Bielefeld have signed Macedonian international Vanco Trajanov, who played for Bulgarian side PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv last season, on a free transfer. The 25-year-old midfield player has signed a two-year deal.

Dorn return
SC Freiburg have re-signed French forward Régis Dorn, the 24-year-old returning to the club he played for from 2000 to 2002 after spells with Amiens and Shanghai Cosco. The striker, who scored four goals in 21 appearances during his previous spell with the Black Forest side, will join the club on 1 July.

Duo staying
Maltese club Birkirkara FC have secured the ongoing services of two key players ahead of the new campaign. Malta international midfield player Roderick Briffa, 23, has signed a new four-year deal with the club while the versatile Lino Galea has put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at the club until 2006.