Bursaspor boosted by triple swoop

Bursaspor will go into next week's UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie against Serbia's FK Vojvodina with a bolstered back line after bringing in a trio of new faces, including French goalkeeper Sébastien Frey who arrives on a three-year contract from Genoa CFC.

For Frey, capped twice by France, the move to Turkey ends a 15-year stay in Italian football where he played for FC Internazionale Milano, Hellas-Verona FC, Parma FC, ACF Fiorentina – where he spent six seasons – and Genoa. The 33-year-old, who joins for an undisclosed fee, will replace Scott Carson, who has returned to England to join Wigan Athletic FC.

The other two defensive reinforcements are Nigeria left-back Taye Taiwo, signed a on a free transfer from AC Milan, and Argentinian centre-back Renato Civelli who arrives from OGC Nice. Taiwo, 28, originally made his name at Olympique de Marseille in France but after joining Milan in 2011 he made only four Serie A appearances before loan moves to Queens Park Rangers FC and FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Taiwo has signed a three-year contract while Civelli, 29, has agreed a two-year deal. Following spells at CA Banfield, Marseille, Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and CA San Lorenzo de Almagro, Civelli joined Nice in 2010 and the following year struck the 2,000th goal in the history of the French League Cup.