Soccer / Football : France : Ligue 1 2011/2012

Paris Saint-Germain have signed Brazilian defender Alex from Chelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of €5m. The 29-year-old has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal and becomes Carlo Ancelotti's second signing during the January transfer window after compatriot Maxwell joined from Barcelona. Alex moved to Chelsea from Santos in 2004, before spending three years on loan at PSV Eindhoven, helping the club achieve a domestic double in 2005. Alex returned to the Blues in 2007, making 86 league appearances during a three-and-a-half-year stint at Stamford Bridge, before the arrivals of David Luiz and Gary Cahill persuaded the defender to leave for the French capital and link up with his old mentor.

Lille have taken central defender Mauro Cetto on loan from Palermo until the end of the season. The 29-year-old Argentine played just seven times for Palermo this season and could make his return to France permanent when the loan expires this summer. Cetto spent nine years in France with Nantes and then Toulouse before leaving for Italy last year. Lille recently lost Marko Basa to a shoulder injury for three months, leaving them short on cover at the back.

Lorient have confirmed the signing of defender Lamine Gassama from Lyon. The 22-year-old Senegal international has penned a four-and-a-half-year contract after the two Ligue 1 rivals agreed an undisclosed fee. Gassama came through the youth ranks at Lyon and broke into the first team three seasons ago, but played only 17 league games at right back.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Mevlut Erding has confirmed he rejected offers to leave France in order to sign with Rennes a three-and-half-year contract. Rennes announced the deal without giving financial details, but French reports estimated the transfer at about €7.5m. The 24-year-old, born in France of Turkish parents, joined PSG from Sochaux in 2009 but an influx of star names at tha capital club over the past year had seen his status slip. Erding, capped 13 times, scored just one goal in 11 matches this season.

Marseille will be without Stephane Mbia for the next two or three weeks after the Cameroon international sustained a thigh injury at the weekend. The 25-year-old, who can play either in central defence or in midfield, was hurt during his team's 3-1 French Cup victory against Ligue 2 side Le Havre. His injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Marseille as with little money in the bank to add players their squad has been weakened by the departures of central defender Souleymane Diawara, midfielder Charles Kabore and the Ayew brothers, Jordan and Andre, for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore limped off clutching his thigh during the first half of Friday's French Cup match against amateur side Sable. The French record signing pulled up on the side of the field and immediately held the back of his left thigh, suggesting he has pulled a hamstring. Coach Carlo Ancelotti replaced him with Christophe Jallet after 27 minutes. "Pastore has a problem, we will know more in the next few days," Ancelotti said. PSG won the match 4-0 to reach the last 16.

French champion Lille has signed striker Nolan Roux from Brest on a 4 1/2-year deal. Lille announced the signing on its website Friday without giving any financial details. French reports estimated the transfer fee at €8 million. The 23-year-old Roux scored 25 goals in 80 league games for Brest, helping it win promotion to the first division two seasons ago. He has scored two goals in two games for France's under-21 team. Lille also signed 18-year-old Costa Rican striker John Jairo Ruiz from Deportivo Saprissa on Friday.

Thierry Doubai has joined French club Sochaux on loan from Udinese until the end of the season. The Ivory Coast international has made just one appearance as a substitute in Serie A since signing from Young Boys last summer. His lack of recent playing time cost him the chance to play in this year's African Nations Cup. Sochaux have an option to buy Doubai after his loan spell ends.