Charalambous impressed during a trial period (pic: Motherwell FC)

Motherwell have signed Anorthosis Famagusta's Cypriot under-21 international Angelis Charalambous.

The 21-year-old defender made a good impression when Motherwell's youth team visited Cyprus in January and impressed again during a trial period.

Motherwell have agreed to pay a sell-on fee, should he later be transferred.

"He's a young man who is intelligent, has a great work-ethic and a great attitude," head of youth Gordon Young told the Motherwell website.

Young, who has been in Larnaca since Sunday, told the Motherwell website: "We played Anorthosis whilst over in Cyprus with the Leonardo DaVinci programme last January and that's where we first spotted Angelis.

He has adapted very well to the culture and lifestyle, although he keeps asking me how cold it is going to be Motherwell's head of youth Gordon Young

"As part of the programme, we've seen and played all the clubs in Cyprus.

"But this year, we made great contacts with Anorthosis Famagusta. They are a Champions League club, the Rangers and Celtic of Cyprus if you like.

"We played their reserves and, whilst in discussions with (manager) Craig Brown, had identified the need for a right back as that was a problem area in the first-team and we didn't have a natural successor in the youth ranks.

"He played against St Johnstone reserves, Hearts reserves and Airdrie and did well enough for Craig and (assistant) Archie (Knox) to agree that he was a player who had something we could develop.

"He's not the finished article, he may take some time before being considered for the first-team but he has a one year contract with the option of an extension.

"But, as a regular Cypriot under-21 international, with versatility, he has something.

"He has adapted very well to the culture and lifestyle, although he keeps asking me how cold it is going to be."

Charalambous joins former Airdrie keeper Lee Hollis at Fir Park, who agreed to join the Lanarkshire side earlier this week.

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