Darmstadt confirm Polter's arrival on loan
SV Darmstadt 98 confirmed the arrival of journeyman striker Sebastian Polter shortly after the close of the transfer deadline on Thursday.
Sebastian Polter's rumored move to SV Darmstadt 98 is through. The last-placed Lilies confirmed that they had acquired the 32-year-old on loan from FC Schalke 04 for the remainder of the season. Earlier reports suggests that Darmstadt have a €500,000 purchase option that may be exercised this summer as part of the deal. The Wilmshaven-native returns to the top flight after having spent half-a-year in the 2. Bundesliga.
Polter was not given a formal rollout as the Hessen-based club, likely because the move back to the top flight came as something of a surprise. Polter had been linked with moves abroad all throughout the day. Darmstadt's appear to have scored a late swoop. Darmstadt shall serve as Polter's seventh German club station. He also played abroad for QPR in England and Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands.
"We are delighted to have acquired a new component for our game with Sebastian Polter," SV trainer Torsten Lieberknecht noted in a club statement, "I am pleased that we have found a player together who fits into our sporting and financial framework. I also sensed that Sebastian is fired up for the task at the Lilies. With his physique and stature, he is the classic target striker that we wanted to add to our squad."
"I'm happy to be playing for Darmstadt and to be back in the Bundesliga," Polter - who is not yet immediately available due to a recent hernia-related surgical procedure undergone in December - added in his own statement, "I'll do everything I can to help the team and contribute my experience in the fight to stay in the league."