Rajkovic joins Chelsea exodus to Hamburg

BERLIN: Hamburg confirmed Wednesday the signing of Serbia international Slobodan Rajkovic from Chelsea on a four-year deal, making the defender the fifth player to join Hamburg from Stamford Bridge.

"He is the type who can get under the opponents' skin and scare other players," said Hamburg coach Michael Oenning.

"He is bringing a quality we do not have and we need right now. On top of that he is left footed."

At 1.91 metres tall (six foot three inches) Rajkovic will bring plenty of height and toughen up the wilting Hamburg defence.

The 22-year-old has joined new Hamburg signings Michael Mancienne, Gokhan Tore, Jacopo Sala and Jeffrey Bruma, who have all come from Chelsea, as Hamburg's ex-Chelsea director of sport Frank Arnesen plunders his former employers.

The Hanseatic club need to strengthen their squad after a disasterous start to the season with one point from three games after they were drubbed 5-0 at Bayern Munich last Saturday in the German league.

The Serbia international moved to Stamford Bridge in 2007, but failed to make a first-team start and was loaned out to PSV Eindhoven, FC Twente and Vitesse Arnhem before Chelsea allowed him to leave on a permanent basis.