Kim Jin-soo signs on with Bundesliga team

Defender Kim Jin-soo, who was dropped from the Korean national football team due to an injury, will play in Germany’s Bundesliga next season.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim said Friday it signed a four-year deal with Kim, 21, of Albirex Niigata of the Japanese League. The club didn’t reveal details.

Kim joined the Japanese club in 2012 and played 66 matches there. He also was a member of the U-20 Korean national team and was called up by the national team coach Hong Myung-bo in July last year for the East Asian Cup.

He was included in Hong’s final 23-man Brazil World Cup roster in May, but was replaced with Park Joo-ho of FSV Mainz 05 due to an ankle injury he sustained later in that month.

Hoffenheim finished ninth last season and is coached by Markus Gisdol.

By Kwon Sang-soo