Fulham sign Ruiz, Sa and Grygera
Fulham have clinched the signing of forward Bryan Ruiz from Dutch club FC Twente in a deal believed to be worth around £10m.
On a busy transfer deadline day at Craven Cottage, the Whites also signed Portuguese international striker Orlando Sa and Czech defender Zdenek Grygera on free transfers, but failed with a bid to capture Alan Hutton from Tottenham.
Costa Rica international Ruiz, 25, agreed a four-year contract after snubbing a late approach from Newcastle, who also had a pre-deadline bid for him accepted by Twente.
Hutton opted to join Aston Villa, who had been widely expected to buy the Scotland full-back after allowing Luke Young to move to QPR.
- Jol’s search for a striker is over
The 31-year-old Grygera, who recently left Juventus, has signed a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
Sa, 23, was also a free agent. He spent last season on loan at Nacional from Porto and has signed a three-year deal with his new club.
The arrival of two attacking players is a major boost for Martin Jol, who made no secret of his determination to sign a striker. The Fulham boss’ options have recently been limited by Bobby Zamora’s ankle injury.
Grygera has played for the Czech Republic 52 times, his last cap coming in 2008. He featured in the 2004 and 2008 European Championships and at the World Cup in 2006.
He was at Ajax before a four-year spell with Juve, during which he came on as a substitute in Fulham’s memorable victory over the Italian giants in March last year.
Meanwhile, Fulham have agreed to sell defender Rafik Halliche to Swansea.
Halliche, 24, has joined the Welsh club on loan until January with a view to then completing a permanent move.
The Algeria international was signed from Benfica in 2010 but his first-team opportunities were limited, largely because of the fine form of Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes.
