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Bayern signs Brazil midfielder Costa from Donetsk (updated)

Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

Bundesliga titleholders Bayern Munich reinforced their squad with the signing of Brazilian international attacking midfielder Douglas Costa, the German record champions announced during a press conference on Wednesday.

After a long back and forth the 24-year-old midfielder finally put pen to paper on a long-term contract, which keeps him with the "Bavarians" until June 2020.

"We are very pleased that we were able to sign Douglas Costa. His five-year contract shows that we are planning our future with him as our attacking midfielder. We hope that he accustoms quickly here in Munich to become our hoped-for support for the team," Bayern's vice chairman Jan Christian Dreesen said.

Costa was signed as an alternative for injury riddled Franck Ribery, who has been sidelined with injuries for most of the time in the past season. The new arrival played the last five years for Ukrainian outfit FC Shakhtar Donetsk where he scored 38 goals in 203 appearances.

"A dream has come true for me today. I am proud to play at Bayern where many well-known Brazilian players already played. I am looking forward to this great team and I will do everything to meet the club' s expectations," Douglas Costa said.

After signing the contract today, Costa will take a break before he gets to know his teammates for the first time on July 11. The Brazilian international was part of the "Selecao", that lost to Paraguay at the penalty shoot out in the Copa America last Saturday.

Bayern Munich encounter Hamburg for the Bundesliga season opener 2015-2016 on Aug. 14. Endit