Wanchope off to Japan

The former Manchester City, West Ham and Malaga player put pen to paper for the J-League side after he left Argentinian outfit Rosario Central under a cloud of controversy 18 months before his contract was due to expire.

The World Cup star - the most prolific marksman his country has ever seen - admitted he had fallen out with the management at Rosario, although he denied his premature exit had anything to do with a rumoured pay dispute.

His signing for Tokyo puts paid to any hopes fans of the flamboyant goal-getter harboured of him returning to action in Europe.

Tokyo were 13th out of 18 teams in the Japanese top flight after the last round of matches, played at the beginning of December.