BREAKING NEWS: Black Cats bag Bayern centre back Jan Kirchhoff
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | January 7, 2016
Sunderland, 3/1 chances with Coral to be stay up in the Premier League this season, have announced the signing of centre back Jan Kirchhoff from Bayern Munich for a reported £750K fee.
“Jan has a very good pedigree and even though he is still relatively young he has experience of football at the highest level, including the UEFA Champions League,” boss Sam Allardyce said.
“He has real versatility as a player, being comfortable in both the centre back and midfield roles.
#SAFC are delighted to announce the signing of centre-back Jan Kirchhoff from @FCBayernEN! #WelcomeJan pic.twitter.com/W92Lwo3kkR
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 7, 2016
“He is desperately keen to experience the Premier League and our job now is to do everything we can to help him settle and adapt quickly to life in English football, so he can have a positive impact on our squad.”
The giant German, who is 6ft 5in, joins after failing to break into Bayern’s first team since signing from Mainz in 2013 and, at 25, has many years ahead of him.
Kirchhoff most recently had a spell with Schalke on loan, who he featured 18 times for last term, and was touted as a highly promising defenders only a few seasons ago.
Uncapped for Germany’s senior side, Kirchoff has played for their youth teams, and his experience with Schalke in the Bundesliga and Champions League would help out the struggling Sunderland team.
The Black Cats currently sit down in 19th in the Premier League table and four points from safety, but recently ended a run of five straight defeats by beating Aston Villa.
Kirchhoff’s arrival certainly bolsters Sunderland’s backline, though he will go up against the likes of Younes Kaboul, John O’Shea, Wes Brown and fellow giant Sebastian Coates for a starting place.
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