Football in Brief: Didier Drogba ends stay in China

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba will be the biggest name at the tournament (GETTY IMAGES)

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has left Shanghai Shenhua to sign an 18-month contract with Galatasaray.

The 34-year-old, who is at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, moved to China after winning the Champions League with Chelsea last May. Drogba signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Shenhua in June that was, according to reports, worth around £200,000 a week.

However, the Shanghai-based Oriental Sports daily said last month that the player was owed money by the club. He will join Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who has moved to Galatasaray from Internazionale.

QPR's Ferdinand in Turkish link

The Queen's Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand is in talks with Turkish side Bursaspor over a potential loan move. The 27-year-old joined the west Londoners from Sunderland in 2011 but, after impressing last season, has struggled for form this term.

Ferdinand has found himself on the periphery of the first team at Loftus Road and, as a result, he looks set to leave. It is understood that he is in talks with Bursaspor over a loan move, although it is unclear as to whether this is with a view to a permanent transfer.

The Turkish side, already home to England international goalkeeper Scott Carson, have signed Stoke's Maurice Edu on loan.

Hazard ballboy denied international call-up

Charlie Morgan, the 17-year-old Swansea ballboy kicked by Eden Hazard last Wednesday, is ineligible to be a ballboy for Wales' forthcoming friendly against Austria because he is too old.

Morgan is a member of the Union Rangers football club which will provide the ballboys for the game at the Liberty Stadium on 6 February. But a Football Association of Wales statement read: "The ballboys will be selected from their Under-15 and Under-16 teams."