By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Darmstadt confirm Klarer capture

Newly promoted Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 finally confirmed the signing of Fortuna Düsseldorf defender Christoph Klarer on Tuesday afternoon.
Christoph Klarer
Christoph KlarerSV Darmstadt 98
The rumored transfer of Austrian defender Christoph Klarer to Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 is finally through. The 23-year-old ventures into Germany's top footballing division for the first time in his career. Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that the Hessen Lilliers have paid €2 million for the former Southampton academy-man's services.

Darmstadt head-coach Torsten Lieberknecht declared himself impressed with both Klarer's style of play and his leadership abilities. The newly promoted Bundesliga side found themselves in need of a central defensive anchor following Patric Pfeiffer's departure to Augsburg. The club was also able to take Stuttgart prospect Matej Maglica on loan in order to bolster to the defensive corps.

"That's why I'm delighted to welcome him to our squad with immediate effect," trainer Liberknecht noted in a statement released by the club, "He has a solid mentality and we trust him to be able to play a solid role in helping us achieving our goals at Darmstadt."

"The people in charge made a lot of effort to recruit me and explain to me their concepts," the player himself added, "I really wanted to move to the Lilies and I'm glad that the transfer has now worked out. Now I'm looking forward to the new challenge in the Bundesliga."
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