Yobo makes Fener move permanent

Fenerbahce have completed the signing of Everton defender Joseph Yobo for an undisclosed fee.



The 31-year-old Nigerian, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at the Turkish club, has singed a three-year deal.



Yobo told the Toffees' official website: "I would love to thank Everton and the management of Fenerbahce for reaching a deal. My family have settled well in Turkey and enjoy the life there, so I'm glad they will be re-uniting with friends here.



"The permanent switch is done and I am also switching to help the team do well on the pitch. It's been a long journey into achieving this dream and now is the time to pay the club and fans back with a great performance."



Nigeria international Yobo joined Everton from French club Marseille, initially on loan, in July 2002 as manager David Moyes' first signing, making a permanent £3.5m switch the following summer.



He made more than 250 appearances for the club, the last of them in a 0-0 Premier League draw at Stoke City in May 2010.



His contract at Goodison Park was due to run until the summer of 2014.



The deal follows Fener's signing of winger Milos Krasic from Juventus last week.

Krasic eager to make Fenerbahce bow

Milos Krasic has spoken of his excitement to have joined Fenerbahce, saying that he 'cannot wait' to play his first match for the Turkish club.

The Serbia international completed a seven-million-euro transfer to the Istanbul club on Thursday after becoming increasingly frustrated at his lack of first-team chances at Juventus under coach Antonio Conte.



Krasic said that he is delighted to have finally found a new club after months of speculation and revealed he has been told wonders about the Turkish giants.



"Reto Ziegler told me incredible things about the club and the fans," he told FBTV. "He seemed to be impressed from his time at Fenerbahce and he would gladly join this team again some time.



"The Super Lig is difficult to win. There are many aggressive and tricky teams. I want to adapt to this league as soon as possible.



"Nikola Lazetic and Zoran Mirkovic told me great things about Istanbul and Fenerbahce. I was excited when I went to the Sukru Saracoglu stadium. I cannot wait to play a match in the Fenerbahce shirt."



The 27-year-old was then asked about the intense rivalry between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.



"I know about the rivalry, Mateja Kezman told me all about it," he said. "Scoring against Galatasaray would be great, but winning as a team is more important."



Fenerbahce and Galatasaray next meet on August 12 in the Turkish Super Cup.

Fenerbahce announce signing of Dirk Kuyt

Fenerbahce have announced on their official website that Dirk Kuyt has left Liverpool to sign a three-year deal with the Turkish club.



Kuyt joined Liverpool in 2006, the summer after they won the FA Cup. He spent five trophy-less seasons at Anfield until the most recent campaign, when he got his hands on the Carling Cup.



A first-team regular under Rafael Benitez, who brought the Netherlands international to Merseyside, Kuyt lost his way under Kenny Dalglish, often playing a bit-part role. He had expressed his frustration on more than one occasion over the past six months, and now the inevitable parting of ways has occurred.



"Dirk Kuyt has signed a three-year contract," read a simple statement on Fenerbahce's official website.



Liverpool later confirmed on their website: "Liverpool Football Club can confirm that Dirk Kuyt has advised the club that he has today reached an agreement with Fenerbahce SK over a move to Turkey, and the transfer is expected to be completed in the next few days.



"Everyone at Liverpool Football Club would like to wish Dirk all the very best for the future and thank him for his contribution to the club."



Kuyt enjoyed some memorable moments as a Liverpool player, making 285 appearances and scoring 71 goals. Bought as a striker from Feyenoord he quickly switched to the right-wing, where he consistently chipped in with goals until Benitez's departure.



The 31-year-old scored in the 2007 Champions League final as Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan, having netted the winning penalty against Chelsea to take the Reds to that final.



Domestically the Dutchman often stepped up when it truly mattered, memorably scoring two penalties in the same Merseyside derby against Everton in 2007, as well as netting a hat-trick at home to rivals Manchester United in 2011.



He was tagged as the scorer of big goals in big games around Liverpool, a reputation he lived up to again when scoring the last-minute winner in the FA Cup tie against United during the 2011-12 campaign. He also notched Liverpool's extra-time goal as well as scoring a penalty in the Carling Cup triumph over Cardiff.



Kuyt's departure marks the first big outgoing name of Brendan Rodgers' reign as Liverpool manager. The Reds boss has revealed his interest in bringing Gylfi Sigurdsson to Anfield this summer.