Bellarabi joins Braunschweig on loan

Bayer Leverkusen have allowed winger Karim Bellarabi to join newly promoted Eintracht Braunschweig on a season-long loan deal.

Bellarabi – who joined Leverkusen from Braunschweig in 2011 – will return to his former club in their bid to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old, who is a youth international for Germany, has battled knee injuries in recent years and faces stern competition for places at the BayArena.

Leverkusen have an abundance of attacking wide players, including new signings Son Heung-Min, and Robbie Kruse, and Sidney Sam.

And the club are pleased to let him go on loan in his bid for regular first-team football.

Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller said on the club’s official website: “Karim Bellarabi is a very talented player who has already shown what he can do for us.

“He now needs match practice after being sidelined with a long-term injury and he’s more likely to get that at Braunschweig rather than with us at the moment.

“We’re convinced that Karim will make a great contribution on his return.”

Braunschweig have lost both of their Bundesliga fixtures this season and sit 15th in the table.