Soccer

Sunderland snap up Bayern Munich’s Jan Kirchhoff

The centre-back has been at Bayern since 2013 but has spent much of time out on loan

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has made his first January signing after Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff arrived in to the north east. Photo: Dave Thompson/PA Wire.
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has made his first January signing after Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff arrived in to the north east. Photo: Dave Thompson/PA Wire.
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 21:27

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has made Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff his first signing of the winter transfer window.

The 25-year-old centre-back has agreed an 18-month deal for a fee understood to be in the region of £750,000.

Kirchhoff moved to Bayern from Mainz in 2013 and went on to spend two spells on loan with Bundesliga rivals Schalke.

Allardyce said: “He has good pedigree — he started playing first team football at 17 or 18 years old at Mainz and that he progressed to a club as big as Bayern Munich shows he has talent.

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“He’s frustrated at not being able to play a bigger part in Bayern’s team in the time he’s been there and he wants to experience the Premier League.”

Although the 6ft 5ins Kirchhoff has played as a central defender for most of his career, he also showed his versatility by assuming a central midfield role during his time at Schalke.

The signing of Kirchhoff is a tiimely boost for Allardyce who experienced frustration in his respective interest in QPR’s Steven Caulker and Lorient’s Lamine Gassama.