Bremen signs Sambou Yatabare, Swansea 'keeper Gerhard Tremmel

Hoping to stave off relegation, Werder Bremen has dipped into the transfer market twice Friday, signing Malian midfielder Sambou Yatabare from Olympiacos and Swansea shot-stopper Gerhard Tremmel.

Yatabare, 26, joins the 18th-place Bremen for a fee of €2.5 million on a contract that runs until June 2019.

(Courtesy: Werder Bremen)

The lanky French-born defensive midfielder joined the Greek giants in 2013 from Bastia, and has since enjoyed loan spells with the Corsicans, Guingamp, and Standard Liege.

"Sambou is tall, powerful, dynamic and courageous, but like any new player he will need time to adjust," Bremen director of sport Thomas Eichin told reporters.

"He is a player both the coach and I wanted to sign. He was number one on our list and we are pleased the transfer has come off."

While Yatabare's move has the appearance of a long-term solution, Tremmel's loan signing is a stop gap, with second- and third-choice 'keepers Michael Zetterer and Raphael Wolf suffering from injuries, leaving Felix Wiedwald the only senior team netminder.

(Courtesy: Werder Bremen)

A Bayern Munich academy product, Tremmel, 37, has plenty of experience playing in Germany, with spells at Hannover, Hertha Berlin, and Energie Cottbus preceding his move to Swansea City in 2011.

"Gerhard Tremmel is a goalkeeper with a huge amount of experience who will support our young goalkeepers and Felix Wiedwald," Eichin said.