Alvaro Arbeloa will leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid's big-spending revolution after passing a medical with the Spanish giants yesterday. Arbeloa, 26, who can play at right-back or centre-back, was last night putting the finishing touches on his £3.5million (Dh21m) move from Liverpool. His place was put in doubt because of the arrival of Glen Johnson from Portsmouth for £18.5m.
Real's medical chief Carlos Diez told his club's website: "He is delighted to be able to play for Real Madrid, which has been his lifelong dream. He's looking forward to joining his teammates." After leaving the hospital, Arbeloa travelled to the club's Bernabeu stadium to sign his five-year contract with Real. The Spain international, who was part of last summer's successful Euro 2008-winning squad, was on Real's books as a youngster before moving to Deportivo La Coruna in 2006, and then on to Liverpool six months later.
Arbeloa becomes Real's seventh signing of the summer after Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Negredo and Esteban Granero. Argentina centre-back Ezequiel Garay is also a new face at the club, although he was signed from Racing Santander last summer before immediately being loaned back to the Cantabrian side.
The Arsenal central defender passed a medical at the club yesterday ahead of a £15m move. Manager Mark Hughes turned to the 28-year-old Ivorian after his efforts to bring in John Terry were rebuffed first by Chelsea, then by their captain. Toure struggled to find his best form last season after the African Nations Cup. He was shunted out to right-back when Bacary Sagna was injured and went on to make 26 starts in the league. Meanwhile, City striker Valeri Bojinov is poised to seal a loan move to newly promoted Serie A side Parma.
West Ham United's Luis Boa Morte was taken to hospital for a scan after suffering a knee injury during their 1-0 defeat in the Premier League Asia Trophy against Spurs in China yesterday. The Portugal midfielder, 31, collapsed in agony after tangling with Spurs left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto nine minutes into the match. He had a brace fitted to his right knee before being taken off the Workers' Stadium pitch on a stretcher. "It's a big blow for me, he's a big player on and off the pitch," said West Ham coach Gianfranco Zola.
* With agencies