Spartak sign defensive prodigy

FC Spartak Moskva have made another winter signing with the capture of Russian Under-17 international Eugeni Shpedt. The 17-year-old defender attended Spartak's first pre-season training camp in Turkey and made a good impression on coach Aleksandrs Starkovs. The former FC Chkalovets-Olimpic Novosibirsk player has agreed a three-year contract with the option of a two-year extension, and will officially sign for Spartak when he turns 18 on 26 January. Also in Russia, goalkeeper Sergei Kozko has moved to FC Moskva from Premier-Liga rivals FC Rubin Kazan. The 29-year-old has penned a three-year deal.

Meanwhile, FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast have signed Paraguayan international Fredy Bareiro on a three-year contract. The 22-year-old forward joins Saturn from Club Libertad in Paraguay. Bareiro, who has 16 caps, will link up with fellow new boys Valeri Esipov (SC Rotor Volgograd), Aleksandr Kharitonov (FC Tom Tomsk) and Aleksandr Shvetsov (FC Khimki) at the Premier-Liga club.

German international Christian Rahn has left Hamburger SV to join 2. Bundesliga outfit 1. FC Köln in a deal worth around €150,000. The 25-year-old midfielder, who missed out on Germany's UEFA EURO 2004™ squad only because of injury, has signed a contract until the end of the season that will automatically be extended by two years if Köln win promotion. Meanwhile, SC Freiburg midfielder Tobias Willi will spend the rest of the campaign on loan at Austrian side SV Austria Salzburg. The 25-year-old made eleven Bundesliga appearances in the first half of the season.

Gambian forward Jatto Ceesay has returned to Dutch team Willem II after 15 months with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the season. Ceesay first joined the Eredivisie outfit in 1995, but left in October 2003 for Al-Hilal, where he fell out of favour following the sacking of coach Aad de Mos.

In Belgium, FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek have landed striker Igor De Camargo from KRC Genk. The 21-year-old Brazilian moves for an undisclosed fee, having agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with the capital club. De Camargo scored ten goals in 33 top-flight games last season when on loan at K. Heusden-Zolder.

Galatasaray SK's out-of-favour striker Ümit Karan has joined BB Ankaraspor on a six-month loan. The 28-year-old had struggled to win a first-team place under Gheorghe Hagi, making only six substitute appearances in the first half of the season, although he did still score twice.

Finally to Scotland where Rangers FC reserve striker Bajram Fetai has been loaned to Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC for the rest of the season. The 19-year-old has made just one substitute appearance for Rangers since arriving from B 93 København in January 2004.