Emir Spahic has signed with Bundelisga club Hamburger SV on a one-year agreement, per multiple reports.
At Bayer Leverkusen, the defender saw his contract terminated, due to fighting with security personnel in a German Cup loss to Bayern Munich, and became a free agent available to other teams.
The conflict, supposedly caught on camera, occurred when security refused to let his friends into the locker room, and he responded by directing a head-butt at the stadium staff.
Hamburg chief executive Dietmar Beiersdorfer made sure to address this episode with the announcement of the transfer acquisition.
[RELATED: Latest transfer news]
“We discussed the incident in Leverkusen and his confrontation of the issue internally. Then we decided on the signing,’' he said.
Spahic had performed in 49 Bundesliga and 14 Champions League games for Leverkusen since arriving from Anzhi Makhachkala two years ago. His prior stints include spells with Sevilla and French side Montpellier. He’s appeared for his home country, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on 81 occasions.
Former Hamburg captain Heiko Westermann did not have his contract renewed; thus, the signing of Spahic, t0 act as a successor, arrived.
''We’re delighted that we could win a seasoned defensive force for our team in him,’' Hamburg sporting director Peter Knaebel said. ''Thanks to his experience, his sporting quality and presence on the pitch, Emir can become an important leader for our team.’'