Mathijsen fills Hamburg hole
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Article summary
Hamburger SV have moved quickly to fill the gap left by Khalid Boulahrouz's departure with the signing of Netherlands defender Joris Mathijsen from AZ Alkmaar.
Article body
Hamburger SV have moved quickly to fill the gap left by Khalid Boulahrouz's departure with the signing of Netherlands defender Joris Mathijsen from AZ Alkmaar.
Four-year contract
The 26-year-old product of the Willem II youth system has already taken part in his first training session with the Bundesliga club, having passed a medical. Mathijsen, capped 12 times by his country, has signed a four-year contract with Hamburg who have returned to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in six seasons by knocking out CA Osasuna in a tense third qualifying round tie.
Big challenge
Mathijsen, who had spent two campaigns with AZ, said: "HSV are a big club with big players and I am looking forward to the challenge. My decision did not depend on their UEFA Champions League qualification, but I did watch the Osasuna game on television and aged about five years. When Nigel de Jong scored the equaliser, I jumped up and cheered." Following the sale of Boulahrouz to Chelsea FC, Mathijsen is set to partner Vincent Kompany in central defence.