Newly-promoted St Pauli have signed goalkeeper Thomas Kessler on loan from Cologne.
Cologne keeper provides further boost ahead of Bundesliga return
St Pauli have made another new signing ahead of their Bundesliga return by signing Cologne goalkeeper Thomas Kessler on loan.
Kessler has agreed a one-year deal with the Hamburg outfit, who are back in the top flight next season after an eight-year absence.
The 24-year-old is eager to gain more first-team football and is still in Cologne's plans having also agreed a contract extension at the RheinEnergie Stadium.
Kessler, who has so far made just 11 first-team appearance for Cologne, had another year on contract but has signed a new deal that runs until June 2013.
"Thomas Kessler and FC Cologne have agreed to the wish of Thomas to hand him a loan move to another club in an attempt to pick up regular first-team practice," general manager Michael Meier told Sportinformationsdienst.
"We are happy to see him doing so at FC St Pauli now."
Kessler has been playing back-up to former Colombia international Faryd Mondragon at Cologne.
He will now battle it out with veteran shot-stopper Matthias Hain for the regular job between the sticks at St Pauli.
The newly-promoted side have already signed former Germany striker Gerald Asamoah and ex-Fulham defender Moritz Volz this summer.
