Bremen finalise Elia capture

Werder Bremen have completed the signing of forward Eljero Elia from Juventus. The two clubs and the player had struck an agreement over the weekend with the player joining his new club in their summer training camp yesterday, however the €5.5million transfer only went through this morning. Elia is now free to commence training with his new team-mates in preparation for the 2012/13 season. "We are pleased that he now belongs to Werder Bremen," said the Bundesliga club's director of sport Klaus Allofs. "He is now taking part in training." Elia will wear the No11 shirt for Bremen having returned to a familiar part of the world. Before joining Juventus a year ago, Elia wore the blue, white and red of Bremen's northern Germany rivals Hamburg for two seasons, scoring seven times in 52 Bundesliga appearances. "I know all about this league, which is one of the best in the world with its full stadia and a very strong competition at a high level," said the 25-year-old. "I would like to make a quick impression here and recommend myself for a return to the national team with my performances for Werder." Elia has been capped 26 times by the Netherlands, but his failure to hold down a regular berth with Juventus last season - he made only four Serie A appearances - cost him his place at UEFA EURO 2012.