Wigan yesterday signed the Bastia defender Pascal Chimbonda, who turned down a late move from Marseille to join the new Premiership club.

Chimbonda (26), who can play at right or centre back, has agreed a three-year contract. "Wigan have a great manager, a great team and a great stadium and they've made it clear to me that they have ambitions in the Premier League," he said.

Charlton have signed the England Under-21 midfielder Darren Ambrose from Newcastle on a four-year contract. The 21-year-old links up with his former Ipswich team-mate Darren Bent, a £3 million signing this summer, after failing to hold down a first-team place after a £1 million move from Portman Road in March, 2003. He made 29 of his 56 Newcastle appearances from the bench.

Everton have confirmed a friendly with Fenerbahce in Istanbul on July 30th, when they may come face to face with Nicolas Anelka, who joined the Turkish champions in January.

Gabriel Heinze has been voted Manchester United supporters' player of the year. The Argentinian is the first non-European winner of the award.

Jonathan Woodgate took a full part in training yesterday as Real Madrid began their preparations for the new season. The England defender did not play a single game for Madrid last season after joining the club from Newcastle last summer. However, he joined his team-mates in yesterday's first session of the pre-season which involved medical tests and some light physical exercise.

Rangers have signed 21-year-old Argentine striker Federico Nieto on loan until January.Nieto scored nine goals in 11 games for Almagro in the Argentine Clausura championship which has just ended.

Cardiff remain locked in talks with Manchester City defender Mikkel Bischoff after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for the 23-year-old Dane.