YAHIA HEADS TO GERMANY

German club Kaiserslautern have entered into the transfer window by completing the signing of Algerian international defender Anthar Yahia on Wednesday. The club announced on its website that it had signed the Algerian Centre back on three-year deal, and it is a massive coup for the club.

Kaiserslautern are struggling down at the bottom of the German Bundesliga and the arrival of Anthar Yahia will only strengthen the team. Kaiserslautern were expected to struggle in the Bundesliga this season, but they have so far done relatively well in the league. As a result, they find themselves just one place below safety in the 16th position.

Only two points separate them from safety and it is a reason for Kaiserslautern to head into the January transfer window in order to strengthen their team. Anthar Yahia is a major signing for the club because the 29-year-old does not only have great experience that playing in club level, but also has 52 caps for Algeria as well.

He has now signed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2015. Anthar Yahia signs from the Middle Eastern side Al-Nasr. He also has the experience of the Bundesliga having played for Vfl Bochum. He spent four years with the club for moving to Al-Nasr.

“If a player of this quality is available on a free transfer, we have to sign him. Anthar Yahia has experience with Bochum in the struggle to stay in the league. He speaks perfect German and knows the league, so there are no integration problems expected,” Kaiserslautern chairman Stefan Kuntz said after announcing the signing.

It is very much expected that his international experience of playing with the Algerian national football team and the club experience with Vfl Bochum will help Kaiserslautern avoid relegation from the top flight this season.