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AZ end wait for Klavan

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With left-backs Héctor Moreno and Niklas Moisander ruled out, Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar have brought forward their transfer of Estonian international defender Ragnar Klavan from Dutch rivals Heracles Almelo.

Ragnar Klavan has joined AZ from Heracles
Ragnar Klavan has joined AZ from Heracles ©Getty Images

With injuries starting to bite, Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar have brought forward their transfer of Estonian international left-back Ragnar Klavan from Dutch rivals Heracles Almelo.

Defensive assignment
The 23-year-old Klavan has linked up with Louis van Gaal's team on an initial six-month loan, which will run into a permanent four-year deal when his contract at Heracles expires in the summer. "Ragnar is a player we have been watching for a while," said AZ director of football Marcel Brands. "We already had an agreement with him for next season, but because of injuries to Héctor Moreno and Niklas Moisander we could use a left-sided defender now. At Heracles he also played on midfield, but we have signed him as a defender."

Heracles spell
Already capped 52 times by Estonia, the move ends a three-and-a-half year spell at Heracles for Klavan, who moved to the Netherlands from Vålerenga IF in 2005.