Ben Haim and Yebda in at Pompey

Portsmouth have confirmed the signings of Tal Ben Haim and Hassan Yebda.

Defender Ben Haim joins on a four-year deal from Manchester City subject to a work permit, while midfielder Yebda, 25, moves from Benfica on a season-long loan.

Ben Haim, 27, told the club's official website: "I'm very happy to be here at Pompey. It's a big challenge...but I'm ready for it.

"I want to help Pompey get some good results and take them to the position they belong.

"I've come here to give 100 per cent in each game and no less. I'm sure that's the same for all the lads."

squad member

Yebda joined Benfica from Le Mans last summer and established himself as a regular squad member under Quique Sanchez Flores last term.

The 25-year-old former France youth international has a contract with the Lisbon club until 2012.

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Stoke snap up Collins

Stoke City have swooped for defender Danny Collins from Sunderland.

The 29-year-old, who was Sunderland's player-of-the-year in the past two seasons, joins for £2.75m in a deal that could eventually rise to £3.5m.

Collins has been in talks with the Potters for the past few days and his move has now gone ahead as expected after he passed a medical and signed his contract on Tuesday morning.

"All this has happened so quickly because only a few weeks ago I was captaining the Sunderland side in their pre-season friendlies," said Collins.

"But Steve Bruce made it clear he was going to bring in new faces and couldn't guarantee me a place.

"I thought it was a good time to move on and seek a fresh challenge.

"In many respects, the two clubs are alike in that they have big ambitions to finish in the top half of the table this season.

"I will have some familiar faces around me with so many ex-Sunderland players already here. Why, the club even plays in red and white stripes as well."

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Carragher: Don't write Gerrard off

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher was not surprised to see Steven Gerrard score the crucial winner at Bolton Wanderers.

The England midfielder responded to manager Rafael Benitez's comments that he had not started the season on his best form by scoring the decisive goal seven minutes from time to earn the Reds a 3-2 comeback triumph at the Reebok Stadium.

"It was a great goal from Stevie, typical of him really," Carragher told Liverpool's official website. "He has taken a bit of criticism this week and it's never a clever thing to write Stevie off because even when there are times when he doesn't play well, he will produce a goal like that.

"It was a great result. I thought we played very well in the first half even though it was disappointing to concede a goal from a corner.

"We have taken a bit of criticism this week and rightly so to a certain extent because we haven't made the greatest of starts.

"I thought the lads showed what great character we have. No-one can ever write us off because I think ourselves and Manchester United, not just in this league but probably anywhere in the world, are the best at coming back from deficits and winning games."

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Arismendi joins Stoke

Stoke City have announced the signing of Uruguay international Diego Arismendi on a four-year contract.

The midfielder has joined from Club Nacional for an initial fee of £2.6m which could rise to £4.8m.

Arismendi follows former Middlesbrough duo Robert Huth and Tuncay Sanli in heading to the Britannia Stadium.

The 21-year-old told the club's official website: "It's a dream come true to come and play in the Premier League.

"In my opinion it is the best league in the world and having watched it on television for many years, I had long held the ambition of coming to play here one day.

"I was impressed with the welcome that I received from the club and I also like the ambitious plans that the manager has for the club in the long term."

Potters chief executive Tony Scholes said: "This is the first time the club has signed a player directly from South America.

"Clearly, Diego will need time to settle in, but we are excited by his potential and are confident he will prove to be a great acquisition."

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Sunderland swoop for Turner

Sunderland have secured the signing of Hull City defender Michael Turner for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old centre-back has agreed a four-year deal with the Black Cats and becomes the club's seventh signing of the summer.

Turner's future has been the subject of conjecture of late, with Liverpool linked with an interest.
But the stopper has now opted to join Steve Bruce's Sunderland, who have won two of their opening four matches of the new Barclays Premier League season.

Bruce said: "I believe that Michael is one of the country's premier central defenders.

"I've been looking to add size and strength to the back line and Michael fits the bill perfectly in that respect as well as being an excellent technical footballer.

"His aerial ability provides us with another dimension at set-pieces at either end of the field and I am delighted that he has chosen to buy into what we are trying to achieve here at Sunderland.

"He has developed immeasurably as a player whilst with Hull - I am extremely confident he will continue that progress with Sunderland and go on to be a big success."

Turner joined Hull from Brentford in 2006 and made 129 league appearances for the Tigers.

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Wolves bring in Maierhofer

Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Austria striker Stefan Maierhofer from Rapid Vienna on a three-year deal.

Maierhofer, who notched 23 goals in 37 matches for Rapid last season, has joined the Barclays Premier League outfit for an undisclosed fee.

The deal also includes an option for the club to extend the contract with the 6ft 7in frontman for a further season.

The 27-year-old became Wolves manager Mick McCarthy's second signing of the day following the arrival of Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo on a season-long loan from Red Star Belgrade.

"We are delighted to bring Stefan in as our ninth new arrival this summer," said Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey.

"He is a player who has been a regular goalscorer for Rapid Vienna in recent seasons and helped the club qualify for the Europa League by contributing to their win against Aston Villa last week.

"Stefan had been targeted by Mick to add competition for places in the striking department, and once again we are pleased that the board and chairman Steve Morgan have been able to support the manager."

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One in, one out at West Ham

West Ham United have signed defender Manuel Da Costa from Fiorentina, with Savio Nsereko moving the other way.

The Hammers announced the completion of both deals late on Monday afternoon.

Germany Under-21s international Savio returns to Italy just seven months after joining West Ham from Brescia for a fee of around £9m.

He struggled to make an impact in the Barclays Premier League, and West Ham will hope Portuguese centre-back Da Costa is better equipped to adapt to English football.
West Ham have accepted an undisclosed fee and the 23-year-old defender in return for Savio.

West Ham United chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "This is a good deal for everyone concerned. Although not for the want of trying, Savio has struggled to make an impact for various reasons, while Manuel is also looking for a fresh start. We will continue to look at home and across Europe for the brightest prospects as they best fit our vision for this club's future.

"Had our financial situation been different we would have preferred to have kept and developed Savio. However, we are required to make savings and our policy has always been to sell players on the fringes rather than established first-team players. With the fee we received for Savio and 50 per cent sell on together with acquiring the highly rated Da Costa, it represented a great deal."

Da Costa has also played for French club Nancy and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, making England the fourth country of what is still a fledgling career.
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