Sky Bet Championship side Leeds United have announced the signing of Felix Widewald from Werder Bremen.
Leeds have managed to capture the signature of German Bundesliga goalkeeper Wiedwald from Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old becomes the Whites’ fourth permanent signing of the summer, bolstering the squad further following the additions of Mateusz Klich, Hadi Sacko and Madger Gomes from the Under-23s.
Wiedwald began his career as a youngster with Werder Bremen before spending two years with Bundesliga 2 side MSV Duisburg. Eintracht Frankfurt signed the goalkeeper during the 2013 summer transfer window, however 12 appearances during a two-year spell led to a returning move to Bremen in May 2015 – with whom he has since made 59 appearances.
The German shot-stopper brings a wealth of experience to Leeds which will improve competition to become the Club’s number one goalkeeper, with Rob Green, Marco Silvestri and Bailey Peackock-Farrell all fighting to become the first choice goalkeeper for the 2017/18 season.
The 27-year-old was granted the opportunity to leave Germany following Werder Bremen’s aquisitions of Jiri Pavlenka from Slavia Prague, making first team chances a likely rarity for the shot-stopper.
Leeds have managed to successfuly fight of waves of competition for the German goalkeeper, with numerous Championship clubs – including Nottingham Forest – after the shot-stopper’s signature. Ligue 1 side FC Nantes looked the most likely destination for the 27-year-old but it is understood that, since Claudio Ranieri’s appointment at the French club, their transfer targets have changed drastically, allowing the Leeds hierarchy to persuade the goalkeeper to move to Elland Road.
