Geovanni heads for Benfica exit

SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal have allowed defender Mário Sérgio to join A. Naval 1º de Maio on a free transfer, despite the player having a year left on his contract in Lisbon. The 24-year-old switched to Sporting in the summer of 2003, but made just 12 Liga appearances before being loaned to Vitória SC last season. "My future is with Naval," he said.

French side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard have announced the acquisition of attacking midfielder Karim Ziani. The 23-year-old Algerian international has signed a three-year contract after leaving newly-promoted FC Lorient. Ziani was named as 2005/06 second division Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

Belarussian side FC Lokomotiv Vitebsk have named former Russia Under-21, FC Spartak Moskva and FC Dinamo Tbilisi coach Andrei Tchernychov as their new boss. The 38-year-old replaces general manager Yuri Kovba, who had stepped in following Sergei Yasinski's dismissal, and is keen to take Lokomotiv into Europe. "I am sure we can achieve a lot," he said.

Galatasaray SK midfielder Altan Aksoy has moved to Turkish rivals Rizespor on a two-year contract after initially joining the club on loan in January. The 30-year-old former Adanaspor AS, Kocaelispor and Konyaspor player made just nine appearances for Galatasaray having transferred to Istanbul last summer.

Turkish UEFA Intertoto Cup contenders Kayserispor have landed Iranian midfielder Hamed Kavianpour from Persepolis FC. The 27-year-old, capped 50 times by his country, has agreed a two-year contract.