1860 Munich have confirmed the recapture of former player Stefan Aigner on a four-year-deal, as they bolster their squad in the hopes of improving upon their poor 15th placed finish in the 2. Bundesliga last season.

Huge signing for the club, and the league

Aigner represents the club's largest transfer outlay over the summer window so far, commanding a transfer fee of around €3 million, a fee that made him the eighth permanent signing of what has been a busy summer for Kosta Runjaic and his staff. Other players to have already joined the club include former Bayern Munich striker Ivica Olic and 19-year-old forward Ribamar, who signed from Botafogo for a fee of around €2.5m earlier in the window.

Speaking to the club's official website, sporting director Thomas Eichin said that Aigner is a "top first division" player and that "guys like him are in demand throughout the Bundesliga".

Described as a "role model" for the club by Eichin, the new signing was keen to state that he is "really happy to be home", with Munich being the city that Aigner was born and grew up in.

Aigner scored 25 goals in his four seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt. (Photo: ffh.de)
Aigner scored 25 goals in his four seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt. (Photo: ffh.de)

Aigner, who scored three goals in 31 games for Eintracht Frankfurt last season in the Bundesliga, originally played for Die Löwen between 2009 and 2012, making 121 appearances for the club and scoring 25 goals in the process. Now the 28-year-old returns after spending four seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, with his highest finish whilst at the club coming in his first season, as they finished in 6th place and qualified for the 2013/14 iteration of the Europa League.

The midfielder will now hope that he is able to use the experience he accumulated in the Bundesliga over the past four seasons to perhaps even allow 1860 Munich to fight for promotion, with the once established top-flight outfit languishing in the second tier of German football ever since their relegation in the 2003/04 season.

1860 Munich will open their 2. Bundesliga season away to Greuther Fürth, who finished last season in 9th place, as the former look to improve upon the last two seasons that have seen them narrowly avoid relegation to the third tier of German football.

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About the author
Jack McGraghan
Sports Journalist from the University of Sunderland.