Levchenko Extends Groningen Stay Evgeniy Levchenko has lived in the Netherlands for so long that he’s been granted a citizenship. And despite attract

The Ukrainian international moved to the Netherlands to join Vitesse in the summer of 1996. And he’s built a career for himself in the country, playing for three more Dutch clubs, including Sparta Rotterdam, before signing for Groningen in 2005.

A powerful left sided player, equally capable of holding a central midfield role, Levchenko has arguably been his side’s corner stone ever since, with 88 appearances and 18 goals to his name, even though he’s currently sidelined with injury. It was therefore no surprise that Groningen offered him a new deal back in October.

The 30-year-old international’s contract was to expire at the end of the season, but now, as the club officially announced today, he’s signed a one-year-extension which will keep him at Groningen until June 30, 2009.

Jansen Hopes Feyenoord Have The Cure Feyenoord have moved fast to clinch the signing of Michael Jansen, less than three days after the sidelined left

Coming through the ranks in Arnhem, Jansen made his debut with the club’s first team as an 18-year-old on December 12, 2002, when the Geel en Zwart lost 1-0 to Liverpool and were eliminated from the UEFA Cup.

In the years that followed he built his reputation as an up-and-coming defender, playing in 72 games and scoring eight times for Vitesse as well as making his way into the Netherlands under-21 side. He was considered such a gifted player that Marco van Basten invited him to train with the Oranje in 2005.

Heart condition

But then disaster struck. On May 15 of that same year, during a home game against Ajax Jansen collided with Steven Pienaar, now of Everton, and lost consciousness. He was immediately replaced and a month later he was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia.

Jansen did not take part in a single competitive match ever since. And despite resuming training sessions last August, he cancelled his contract with Vitesse after “an advancing difference of opinion concerning his treatment”.

Off to Almelo

Feyenoord jumped at the chance and today announced signing the 23-year-old until the end of the season with an option to extend his contract for a further three years, should he return to action in the meantime. However, Jansen will have to look for first-team action elsewhere, as within hours from signing him Feyenoord have loaned him out to Heracles until June 30.

“This is a slice of luck for us,” technical director Peter Bosz told the Feyenoord official website. “Michael is an exceptionally talented player who has been sidelined by bad fortune for a long time. He’s now fully recovered from his heart problems. We will give him the chance to prove himself again at the highest level.”

Bosz, who had played for both Vitesse and Feyenoord himself, and coach Bert van Marwijk are still looking for reinforcements at the back, while the club have already allowed two of their defenders (Karim Saïdi on loan to Sivasspor and Pieter Collen to Sint-Truidense) to leave this month.

Maduro Set To Complete Valencia Move Hedwiges Maduro is expected to conclude his transfer from Ajax to Valencia on Friday as Ronald Koeman has pinpoi

The 22-year-old Dutch midfielder is reported to be flying to Spain where he will undergo a medical and put pen-to-paper on a deal by the end of the day.

Koeman has made his move as Maduro's contract expires at the end of the end of the season and Ajax are keen to receive a fee rather than let him leave nothing.

With 12 international appearances for the Netherlands already, his experience and versatility made him a prime target for many of Europe's wealthier clubs.

Koeman jumped to the head of the queue though as he continues his restructuring of Los Ché squad and looks to have clinched the deal.

Standing at 1.85m tall, Maduro's physical presence has seen him shine in defensive midfield and he will be asked to partner another new arrival, Éver Banega, in the centre.

Maduro was voted as Ajax's most promising prospect in 2003-04 and quickly saw his career take off as he became a regular in the Amsterdam club's side and went on to appear in the 2006 World Cup Finals.

Albelda's future is still up in the air after he was told that he is surplus to requirements and has attracted the interest of several clubs both in Spain and abroad.

Despite that, Valencia have stated that he can only leave if someone is willing to meet his €60m buy-out clause which has left the veteran campaigner in limbo.

It’s Official: Bolton Seal Steinsson Move

“This is a great chance for me. I have already said goodbye to the players and staff of AZ and I’ll very soon coming back to Alkmaar to thank the fans,” the Iceland international told De Telegraaf morning daily. “I was here five years ago on a trial, but I was far from my best at the time.”

While British media reports have different estimations on the transfer fee, varying from 3.3 million to 5.3 million, the Eredivisie official site stresses that Wanderers will finally pay four million euros.

The former Akraness and Young Boys right fullback had moved to the Netherlands in August 2005 and has concluded his Alkmaar career playing in 98 matches and scoring nine times.