Dutch defender Braafheid signs for Bayern

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BERLIN, June 11, 2009 (AFP) - Dutch left-back Edson Braafheid signed for German giants Bayern Munich on Thursday to become their fifth close-season signing this summer after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal.

Strikers Mario Gomez and Ivica Olic, midfielders Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Alexander Baumjohann have already signed and Bayern have now agreed terms with the 26-year-old Braafheid for their defence.

The left-sided defender had been linked with Amsterdam giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, but he opted to leave FC Twente to link up with new Munich boss Louis van Gaal after passing a medical in Munich on Thursday.

The signing of Braafheid, who has two caps for Holland, and the nearly-completed deal for Danijel Pranjic from SC Heerenveen offer Bayern more alternatives at full-back.

Both players, fresh from successful campaigns for their clubs in the Dutch first division, are comfortable in the left-back berth.

That would allow Germany international Philipp Lahm to revert to the right side of the field where Bayern are short of options at right-back following the departures of Willy Sagnol and Massimo Oddo.