Bayern bid farewell to Jansen, welcome Oddo

Germany defender Marcell Jansen has joined Hamburg for a reported fee of eight million euros (11.8 million US dollars) and been replaced at Bayern Munich by Italian World Cup winner Massimo Oddo.

Less then 24 hours after German tabloid Bild reported left-back Jansen had signed for Hamburg, Bayern Munich on Thursday revealed they had signed defender Oddo on loan from AC Milan.

With the summer transfer window set to close on September 1, Jansen, who has won 28 caps for Germany and played in the Euro 2008 final defeat against Spain, will undergo a medical in Hamburg on Thursday.

Jansen spent a year in Munich having joined last summer from Borussia Monchengladbach and made 17 Bundesliga appearances, but his progress was hampered by a three-month lay-off with a serious ankle injury.

A series of minor injuries meant he struggled during pre-season this summer and was kept on the bench for the opening two league games.

His replacement Oddo, 32, arrived in Munich on Thursday and is set to face Hertha Berlin on Sunday at the Allianz Arena having been signed on a one-year loan deal.

“Massimo Oddo is a type of player who can control our defence,” said Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann on the club's website about the defender who has 34 caps for the Azzurri.

“He will be a big addition to our team.”

Oddo played 25 Serie A matches for Milan last season, but was not in the Italy squad for this summer's European Championships.

The Italians arrival is timely for defending champions Bayern who have struggled to impress so far this season with draws against Hamburg and Dortmund.

Of their key defenders, French star Willy Sagnol is injured, while Christian Lell is out of form.

Oddo spent 18 months at AC Milan having joined them in January 2007 from Rome's Lazio and he is the third player to join Bayern this summer behind midfielder Tim Borowski and reserve goalkeeper Jorg Butt.

With the summer transfer window set to close on Monday, Bayern manager Uli Hoeness refused to rule out the possibility of more additions.

“With Bayern, anything is possible,” he said.

But having quit Bayern, Jansen is relishing his switch to Hamburg and revealed how he was courted by the north German team for over a year.

“I am really pleased with the move and looking forward to the challenge in a new city,” he said on the Hamburg website.

“The first contact I had with Hamburg was a long time ago.

“The club's executive committee have always dealt with me with great honesty and respect, which gave me a good feeling.”

He is Hamburg's third new signing this summer after Croatia striker Mladen Petric joined from Dortmund while and Brazil central defender Alex Silva switched from Sao Paulo.