SV Darmstadt 98 have announced their fifth new signing of the summer, with Ukrainian international Artem Fedetsky joining from FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

The 31-year-old joins the Lilies on a free transfer, and is reported to have signed a one-year deal.

There looks set to be a departure from the club however, with US Palermo announcing they are to sign fellow defender Slobodan Rajković.

An experienced campaigner

The right-back leaves his homeland for the first time, having also played for Arsenal Kyiv, FC Kharkiv and Shakhtar Donetsk before joining Dnipro in 2012. He made 69 appearances for the club over four years, chipping in with three goals.

Although not always a regular, he helped them to consecutive top four appearances in his time there, and he started in the 2015 UEFA Europa League final against Sevilla FC in Warsaw, which his team lost 3-2.

Fedetsky also has 52 caps for Ukraine, and played in every minute of his county disappointing UEFA Euro 2016 campaign, with the side losing all three of their group matches.

Fedetsky challenged Germany's Mesut Özil whilst playing for Ukraine | Photo: Sportsmole/AFP
Fedetsky challenged Germany's Mesut Özil whilst playing for Ukraine | Photo: Sportsmole/AFP

The club’s sporting director Holger Fach describes Fedetsky as “a very experienced player, who has proven his quality at national and international level.”

Fedetsky is looking forward to playing in the Bundesliga, which he describes as “one of the strongest leagues in the world.” He also added that he is “grateful for the confidence of those in charge of the club” that was shown in him during the contract negotiations.

Two in, one out

He is the second player to sign for the club this week, following Antonio-Mirko Colak’s arrival on loan from 1. FC Kasierslautern on Monday. He follows the arrival of centre-back Immanuel Höhn, plus keepers Daniel Heuer Fernandes and Michael Esser.

However it appears that Serbian defender Rajković on the way out. Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini confirmed he is set to sign for them, and the two were pictured together at the side’s latest friendly match.

After joining the club on a free transfer after his departure from Hamburger SV, he made 15 appearances for Darmstadt, but his only run in the side came after the winter break, coinciding with the club’s dip in form.

Quotes: SV Darmstadt 98

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