SPL: Albertz rejoins Hamburg

Hamburg today completed the signing of Jorg Albertz from Rangers for a club record £3million fee.

The German midfielder has signed a three-year contract with the Bundesliga club after five years at Ibrox.

The clubs had appeared to be deadlocked over the fee for Albertz, nicknamed The Hammer’ for his prodigious shooting ability, but have finally come to an agreement.

He joined Rangers for £4million and was a member of three championship-winning sides.

He was named Scottish player of the month yesterday, but for much of the season his first-team opportunities have been limited, prompting him to look for a new club.

‘‘I am happy that we have come to the end of lengthy and tough negotiations,’’ said Hamburg sporting director Holger Hieronymus.

‘‘And I am sure that Jorg can help the team.’’

Hamburg coach Frank Pagelsforf is backing Albertz to make the same impact at the Volksparkstadion as Andy Moller made when he left Borussia Dortmund for Schalke last summer, but knows there will be those who see the move as a backwards step.

He told the Bundesliga’s official website: ‘‘Then some questioned the sense initially.

‘‘But at the end of the season Moller belonged among celebrated heroes of a successful team.’’

Schalke finished second and were seconds away from winning the title, only for Bayern Munich to snatch a last-gasp equaliser against Pagelsdorf’s team.

But a year after finishing third, Hamburg sunk to a dismal 13th place in the Bundesliga.

Hamburg have yet to say whether Albertz will reassume the club captaincy he held before leaving in 1996.