Bibras Natkho believes a move to Greece will enhance his credentials after signing a six-month deal with PAOK Salonika.

But having been linked with a number of bigger clubs, the Israeli international did not attempt to hide his disappointment.

"My dream was to play in one of Europe’s biggest leagues and meanwhile that has not worked out," said Natkho. "I’m happy to be playing at a team like PAOK and my aim is to be playing as much as possible and not go to a very big club where I’d spend my entire time on the bench."

PAOK lie second in Greece’s Super League and Natkho, who was out of contract at Rubin Kazan, has an option to extend his contract for 12 months if the team qualifies for the Champions League.

Another late move in the transfer window saw Itay Shechter loaned by Hapoel Tel Aviv to French Ligue 1 side Nantes for the rest of the season.

My aim is to be playing as much as possible and not go to a very big club where I’d spend my entire time on the bench.

Shechter, who started his career in the Hapoel Haifa youth team where he won the Israeli Youth Cup at the age of 13 in 1999-2000 season, returned to Hapoel last summer after an unsuccessful
spell with Swansea.