29.01.2015, 05:35
Prominent late entries before main round

NEWS REPORT: Several teams in the Women's EHF Champions League have been active on the transfer market ahead of the main round.

Prominent late entries before main round

No less than seven out of the 12 teams in the main rounds have signed new players after qualifying from the group phase before the late entry deadline on Tuesday midnight.

The most prominent name among the players who have changed club is probably French international Allison Pineau who has joined RK Krim Mercator from WHC Vardar SCBT. Having undergone surgery for a knee injury in the autumn, the 25-year-old versatile back court player has not played any matches in the Champions League this season yet.

Having not exactly got a replacement for Pineau, Vardar have definitely extended their squad during the break, though. Line players Robertina Mechevska and Ivana Gakidova as well as left wing Itana Grbic are all new in the squad of the Macedonian team.

Having had to replace a goalkeeper for the second time this season, plus three back court players due to pregnancy and injury, it comes as no surprise the Györi Audi ETO KC have been the most active club on the transfer market.

The back-to-back Champions League winners have signed no less than five new players, of which Norwegian national team goalkeeper Kari Aalvik Grimsbø is the latest arrival.

Viborg HK, Champions League winners in 2006, 2009 and 2010, have been severely hit by injury, and have persuaded a couple of veterans to give a helping hand again.

34-year-old left wing Henriette Mikkelsen was part of the Viborg team all the three times the club has won the Women´s Champions League, while 42-year-old playmaker Heidi Astrup had her share in the first triumph in 2006. Both veterans, who had originally ended their careers, have given a helping hand from time to time in the Danish league this season, and now they are also ready to make their experience available to their team in the Champions League.

Viborg also signed Maura Visser, but as the Dutch centre back already played in the Champions League this season for Leipzig she is eligible only for Danish club's domestic competitions.

Another Dutch playmaker Lois Abbingh became a representative of a ninth nation in the colourful squad of Romanian champions HCM Baia Mare.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br