Hertha Berlin will sign Georgia international Levan Kobiashvili in the January transfer window.
Second signing of the winter for Bundesliga strugglers
Hertha Berlin will sign Georgia international Levan Kobiashvili in the January transfer window.
The 32-year-old, who can play in midfield or defence, has put pen to paper on a contract valid until the end of the season with an automatic extension of two years should the Bundesliga club avoid relegation this term.
Hertha are currently rock-bottom of the German top flight and have only managed a miserly six points from 17 games so far.
Kobiashvili, who will be the club's second signing this winter behind Theofanis Gekas, will move from Bundesliga rivals Schalke 04 on 1st January for a reported nominal fee.
Berlin's general manager Michael Preetz said: "We are delighted that Levan will come to us.
"With his experience, he will undoubtedly give us more stability."
Hope
Meanwhile, Hertha captain Arne Friedrich has still not given up hope of avoiding relegation, despite the team being 10 points from safety.
Friedrich believes the new signings of Kobiashvili and Gekas will be a massive boost to the side.
"Anything is possible in football," he said. "It would make no sense now to say that we are already relegated and there is nothing left to play for.
"We have not written the season off, even if looks very, very difficult.
"I think we still have a 50/50 chance, which may sound very optimistic, but you have got to be optimistic.
"We have lost important players who we were unable to replace, but now we hope that the new arrivals can help us get our heads clear.
"If we make a good start to the second half of the season, then the other teams will be put under pressure from below and then we can catch up with them. I am very optimistic."
