Bayern seal deal for Kirchhoff
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have signed Mainz centre-back Jan Kirchhoff on a free transfer.
Kirchhoff, 22, will move to the club in the summer, Bild reported, with the development coming after the Germany Under-21 international had announced his intention to leave Mainz in the summer.
“We are delighted that such a young and talented under-21 international has decided to join FC Bayern," Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the paper.
Kirchhoff has made only six starts for Mainz this season, and boss Thomas Tuchel has been using him as a defensive midfielder.
Earlier, it had appeared that Schalke were leading the race to sign him, while Hoffenheim had also voiced an interest.
Kirchhoff will most likely join Germany internationals Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng and Brazilian centre-back Dante in defence, with Daniel van Buyten having only six months left on his Bayern contract.
