By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Official: Stark signs with Bremen

Former Hertha BSC captain Niklas Stark's switch to Werder Bremen is now official. 
V Werder Bremen confirmed the rumored pick-up of Hertha BSC defender Niklas Stark on a free transfer late Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old, who already has 200 top flight German footballing appearances under his belt, will move to his third Bundesliga club next season.

"Nikki has been in our sights for some time," SV personnel executive Clemens Fritz noted in a statement, "The opportunity came up to convince him of Werder and we did that. He brings with him a lot of experience."

"I had very good talks with those responsible at Werder and immediately felt optimistic," Stark noted in his own statement, "I'm happy to be a part of this club and would like to help Werder establish itself permanently in the Bundesliga again."

After also picking up Bielefeld defender Amos Pieper, Werder have already snatched up two top flight players for their coming return to the Oberhaus. Although there shall certainly be more such acquisitions, rumors that the Hanseaten were also interested in Gladbach's Laszlo Benes have actually been widely discredited.

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