Butt completes switch to Newcastle
 |  England midfielder Butt has cost Newcastle around 2.5 million pounds |
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NEWCASTLE, England -- Newcastle United have completed the signing of England midfielder Nicky Butt on a four-year deal from Manchester United.
The transfer ends the 29-year-old's long association with Manchester United, where he started as a trainee in 1991 and went on to win six English league titles, two FA Cups and the 1999 European Cup.
The fee has not been disclosed but media reports suggest it is in the region of 2.5 million pounds ($4.54 million).
"Nicky Butt has officially completed his transfer from Manchester United this morning," a Newcastle spokesman said.
"The player has signed a four-year contract and has been given squad number four for the 2004/05 season."
Butt slipped down the midfield pecking order at Old Trafford last season and the last of his 387 appearances for United came as a late substitute in the FA Cup final victory against Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in May.
Butt, whose hopes of representing England at Euro 2004 were dashed by injury, has played 35 times for his country and Pele described him as the best player of the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.
He could make his Newcastle debut against Rangers in a pre-season tournament at St James' Park this Saturday alongside fellow new signing Patrick Kluivert.
Copenhagen swoop
FC Copenhagen, Danish champions and cup winners in 2003-2004, are signing midfielders Swede Tobias Linderoth and Norwegian Magne Hoset.
Linderoth who played in Sweden's Euro 2004 team, will move from English Premier League club Everton.
Hoset will switch from Molde.
Zola stays
Former Chelsea player Gianfranco Zola will extend his stay at promoted Cagliari by another year.
Cagliari officials said they had "reached an agreement for the renewal of the contract of captain Gianfranco Zola".
Zola, 38, had threatened to leave the club and move over financial differences.
The Sardinian-born former Italy international returned to Cagliari in 2003 after spending seven years in London.
By deciding to extend his career, Zola will play in Serie A for the first time since leaving Parma in November, 1996. The former Italian national team striker also played for Napoli earlier in his Serie A career.
Zola is still scheduled to play in a ceremonial farewell match for Chelsea on August 8.
