Contra seals Spanish switch

Romania captain Cosmin Contra has joined Getafe CF on a season-long loan deal from Primera División rivals Club Atlético de Madrid. The 29-year-old right-back, who spent last season on loan at Premiership outfit West Bromwich Albion FC before ending the campaign with Romanian First Division side FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara, joined Atlético in 2002. Getafe will be his third Spanish side after joining Deportivo Alavés from FC Dinamo Bucuresti in 1999 before moving to the capital.

Veteran Uruguay defender Paolo Montero has joined Argentinian side AC San Lorenzo on a free transfer. The 33-year-old's contract with Italian champions Juventus FC expired in June, ending 13 successive seasons in Serie A after joining Atalanta BC in 1992. He moved to Turin in 1996 and has since won five titles with the Bianconeri.

Jos Verhaegen has been reappointed as chairman of Belgian Cup holders KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen, returning to the post he held up until two years ago. He succeeds Marc Van Beek, who has been appointed as chairman of the board of directors, but has warned the side's supporters that progress could be slow. "Things won’t suddenly change - I won't suddenly make a wonder striker appear," he said. "Although we are always busy in re-enforcing the squad."

Belarussian Premier League side FC Slavia Mozyr have sacked Andrei Sosnitski after a series of disappointing results. The 42-year-old has failed to make a significant impact since taking the helm a year-and-a-half ago. Slavia captured league and cup doubles in 1996 and 2000 but have suffered a stark decline and currently lie second-from-bottom after picking up just nine points in the opening 14 games. Reserve coach Aleksandr Belan will take temporary charge, starting with the visit of Belarus champions FC Dinamo Minsk on Sunday.

FC Zhenis Astana will meet FC Kairat Almaty in the Kazakhstan Cup final on 11 November after Zhenis defeated FK Atyrau 4-2 on aggregate, while Kairat saw off FC Taraz by the same margin in the semi-finals. Kairat's success against Taraz was particularly sweet for the champions as they were denied a double success last season when losing 1-0 to Taraz in the cup final.

Hungarian international Gábor Vincze has signed a three-year deal with Scottish Premier League side Livingston FC. The 28-year-old midfield player moved to Almondvale in January on a short-term deal along with countrymen Ferenc Horváth and Attila Kriston who have both since moved on. "Gabor is a key man," said manager Paul Lambert.

Finally, West Ham United FC have loaned two players to English Championship sides. The Premiership newcomers have farmed out former Manchester United FC winger Luke Chadwick to Stoke City FC while goalkeeper Stephen Bywater has been sent to Coventry City FC, also a division below the top-flight.