Cologne have signed Neven Subotic on loan from Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season.
Subotic, 28, has endured a difficult spell at Dortmund in recent years, struggling for game time after being plagued by injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament damage and a knee problem.
His transfer to Middlesbrough last summer collapsed after he failed a medical as a result of a thrombosis in his arm, resulting in him having to undergo surgery to remove one of his ribs.
However, after passing a medical with Cologne on Thursday, the defender has now completed a move to the RheinEnergieStadion.
�� Welcome to #effzeh, @NSubotic4!
�� https://t.co/tfNYbtrXoR pic.twitter.com/oyJy3XlJyg- 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) January 26, 2017
"I am here with a smile on my face and am excited to take on this challenge with a new club," Subotic told Cologne's official website. "I am very grateful for the fantastic years at BVB. As an ambitious professional my focus starting today is 100 percent on Cologne. I want to play in the Bundesliga again. That is what spurs me."
Cologne head coach Peter Stoger added: "We are all happy to have Neven here and are excited for his time with us. His years in Dortmund can be defined by incredible success, as he was an integral part of their championship teams.
"He is coming off a difficult spell, but this allowed us the opportunity to work with him. We are convinced that Neven Subotic can become an important player for us in the next six months."
Subotic was a key member of the Dortmund team which won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, and reached the Champions League final in 2013.
He has been a fan favourite at Dortmund for his work off the pitch as well as on it -- he established his own charity, spending summer breaks in Africa working for the foundation.
Subotic has played in 192 Bundesliga games for Dortmund, the club he joined from Mainz as a 19-year-old in 2008. He is under contract at the Westfalenstadion until 2018.
