Racing Metro 92 - still very much in the thick of the mix for quarter-final qualification from Pool 1 - have swooped for South African international lock Juandre Kruger.
Racing, second in the group two points behind Saracens and one point ahead of Munster, are home to Saracens and away to Munster in the final Pool matches in the New Year.
And the Springbok second row forward is no stranger to European club rugby - he was a Challenge Cup winner with Northampton Saints in 2009 when they beat Bourgoin 15-3 in the final at the Twickenham Stoop and he made seven appearances for the Saints in their Heineken Cup campaign the following season.
Kruger, who has been capped eight times, will see out his current contract at the Blue Bulls before teaming up with Racing for the 2013/14 season.
The 27-year-old is in his second spell at the Bulls, having played for the Currie Cup side before moving to Northampton. He returned after two seasons and was one of the standout performers in the 2012 Super Rugby campaign.
Bulls head coach Frans Ludeke said: "It is always good to know and to hear that your players are wanted all over the world, but unfortunately it is not always possible to hold on to them once those offers start coming in.
"With the exchange rate as it is at the moment, it is very difficult to remain on level terms with those clubs when it comes to contract talks.
"We were very keen to extend his contract, but financially it was just not possible. We are very happy for Juandre, as it is a great offer he received, but that left us in an unfortunate position that we could not match it."
