Jan Kirchhoff signs for Sunderland for undisclosed fee

Scott Anderson
Jan Kirchhoff: Signed 18-month deal at Stadium of Light

Jan Kirchhoff: Signed 18-month deal at Stadium of Light

Sunderland have completed the signing of Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff for an undisclosed fee. 

The German centre-back has signed an 18-month deal at the Stadium of Light that will keep him at the club until June 2017.

The 25-year-old arrived in the North East yesterday to undergo a medical, and the Black Cats have now confirmed he has signed for the club.

Kirchhoff began his career at FC Mainz, making 56 appearances for the first team, before moving to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2013.

Since joining the Bavarians he has enjoyed two loan spells at FC Schalke gaining valuable Champions League experience in doing so.

Kirchhoff now joins Sunderland in a bid to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League, and manager Sam Allardyce says he can have a “positive impact” on his squad.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Allardyce said: “Jan has a very good pedigree and even though he is still relatively young he has experience of football at the highest level, including the UEFA Champions League.

“He has real versatility as a player, being comfortable in both the centre back and midfield roles.

“He is desperately keen to experience the Premier League and our job now is to do everything we can to help him settle and adapt quickly to life in English football, so he can have a positive impact on our squad.”

Kirchhoff will not feature in Saturday’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium due to pending international clearance.