Schalke loan Raffael from Dynamo

Schalke have confirmed the loan signing of Brazilian attacking midfielder Raffael from Dynamo Kiev until the end of the season. The Royal Blues also have an option to buy the 27-year-old, who has experience of German football having spent four years with Hertha Berlin. Rafael left the capital club to join Dynamo last summer. Schalke general manager Horst Heldt told the club website: "Because of our ongoing injury misfortune - for example the minimum two-month lay-off for Ibrahim Afellay - we have decided to dip into the transfer market again. "We are very pleased that the signing of Raffael is complete. He strengthens our options in attack." Raffael said he was "hugely pleased" to be back in the Bundesliga. From : Fifa