Cleiton Xavier has signed a four-year contract with UEFA Europa League play-off contenders FC Metalist Kharkiv.

The 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder has spent the past two seasons with SE Palmeiras, scoring four goals in 39 league games, and has never played for a club outside his homeland. He moves to the Ukrainian Premier League for an undisclosed fee ahead of Metalist's second league fixture of the campaign against PFC Sevastopol on Saturday. Xavier's switch follows the arrival Argentinian full-back Cristian Villagra from CA River Plate earlier this month. The draw for the UEFA Europa League play-offs takes place on 6 August.