Official: Behrens switches to Wolfsburg
FC Union Berlin striker Kevin Behrens' move to VfL Wolfsburg has been officially confirmed. For the first time in his career, Behrens has moved to another club on something other than a free transfer.
VfL Wolfsburg have landed their targeted assistance in attack for struggling Danish striker Jonas Wind. In a move that reminds one of the very same transfer window two years ago in which Wind joined Wolfsburg, Germany's green company team have once again plucked a striker from neighboring 1. FC Union Berlin. Kevin Behrens follows in the footsteps of Max Kruse, joining the Autostädter from the Köpenicker.
Sky Germany reports that Wolfsburg secured Behrens' services for a transfer fee of between €2.5 million and €3.5 million. Germany's preeminent footballing publication places the fee in the middle, noting that there are some performance-based bonuses contained therein. Interestingly enough, no team has ever paid money for Behrens before. All of his seven previous club moves came on free transfers.
Details on how long the 32-year-old's new contract runs were not divulged. Behrens only just signed a one-year-extension with Union last year and was sitting on an expiring contract. The former amateur footballer's late career renaissance culminated with four league goals for Union in the first two rounds of the current. Behrens even earned a call-up to the German national team.
Unfortunately, Behrens hasn't scored in any competition since match-day two of the current season. Talk of him returning to the national team does not exist amidst his current form crisis. The Bremen-native made clear that he wished to turn this around with his new club in a statement accompanying the signing.
"It's great that my journey in the Bundesliga is continuing here in Wolfsburg," Behrens noted, "It quickly became clear to me in discussions with those responsible that they absolutely want me at VfL. I can hardly wait to complete my first training session with my new teammates and help the team to be successful."
Behrens and FCU managing director Oliver Ruhnert also issued statements commemorating the player's time in Köpenick. Ruhnert called it "a difficult decision to comply with Behrens' desire to transfer elsewhere. Behrens thanked his "Union family" for believing in him and noted that he had had an "incredible time" playing for the club.
"Kevin comes from regular playing experience, he knows the league and will therefore only need a short acclimatization period," VfL sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz in Wolfsburg's official transfer announcement, "With Kevin, we now have a striker in our squad who is very good in the air, a great mentality, and a high level of resilience."