Bochum sign preferred Stöger replacement de Wit

A little over a week after announcing the signing of Ibrahima Sissoko, Bundesliga promotion-relegation winners VfL Bochum have secured the services of another €5 million-valued footballer on a free transfer. Twenty-six-year-old Dutch attacking midfielder Dani de Wit joins the Revierklub from AZ Alkmaar. De Wit had long been considered the ideal candidate to replace the departed Kevin Stöger. 

De Wit - who scored 12 goals and registered five assists in 45 appearances across all competitions last season - had many potential suitors. Bochum reportedly beat out other interested parties in the Premiership and Serie A. The German rumor mills had been churning endlessly with talk of the player's future over the past few weeks. 

"We are delighted that we were able to convince Dani de Wit to move to VfL Bochum," sporting director Marc Lettau noted in a club statement, "as we were by no means the only club interested in him. Dani has been one of Alkmaar's top performers in recent years, both in the Eredivisie and in international cup competitions.

"He is a leader who will enrich our attacking play," Lettau continued, "Dani looks for the goal, is strong in tackles, and is also very present aerially. The fans can look forward to a seasoned professional who has also impressed us with his competitive mentality."

"I can hardly wait to start here at VfL Bochum," the player himself added, "The club, the fans, the stadium - all that made me choose VfL. I've already heard a lot about the atmosphere in the stadium, it's really loud here. For me, it's the perfect combination: the devotion from the stands and the hard work on the pitch.

"That's what I'm here for, that's what I stand for," he continued, "I'm really looking forward to wearing the VfL jersey. The Bundesliga has always been a dream, one of the top leagues for me. This is the level at which I want to prove myself in the future."