Christoph Klarer, an Austrian centre-back, has joined Birmingham City as their sixth summer signing.
Klarer, 24, joins Blues from Bundesliga II side Darmstadt to become the club’s third acquisition this week. The Blues paid an undisclosed price for the defender, who has signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year. Alex Cochrane and Iceland international Willum Willumsson have already arrived from Hearts and Go Ahead Eagles, respectively.
Klarer played often in the Bundesliga last season as Darmstadt finished last and was relegated to the German second tier. He appeared in 30 of the team’s 34 games, scoring twice against Frankfurt and Köln.
Klarer played three seasons with Dusseldorf, playing regularly in Bundesliga II, before joining Darmstadt last summer. This isn’t his first time in England; he spent time on Southampton’s books as a kid when German compatriot Ralph Hasenhuttl was the manager.
