Argentine makes Bundesliga move.
Former Wigan Athletic and Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo has completed a free transfer to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.
The 24-year-old Argentinean international, who was released by the Latics following their relegation to the Championship at the end of last season, has signed a three-year contract at the Weserstadion.
Di Santo has been recruited as a replacement for Chelsea’s Kevin De Bruyne, who has returned to his parent club for the new campaign after impressing in Germany.
Werder’s sporting director Thomas Guage confirmed on the club’s official website: “We were looking for a robust striker who already has experience in a big league. We are sure that we have with Franco Di Santo found a good solution. He has experience, but he also has enough development potential to make a big step forward. He wants the World Cup with Argentina in 2014 and we would be delighted if he so draws attention in Bremen that he reached the goal,”
The Argentine striker struggled to make the grade at Chelsea having arrived from Europe as a youngster and he spent time on-loan at Blackburn Rovers, before making the permanent switch to Wigan in 2010.
With only 13 goals in his 92 games for Wigan, the forward was not exactly prolific during his three years at the DW Stadium but his work rate and commitment made him a key player for Roberto Martinez’s team.
He was somewhat surprisingly rewarded for his form in March with a call up to the Argentine national team for their World Cup qualifiers ahead of Manchester City star Carlos Tevez.
The striker, who netted five times for Wigan last season, was understood to be a transfer target for both Swansea City and West Brom after he was release by Wigan but he has instead decided to make the switch to Germany.