FC Augsburg got themselves into the transfer deadline day action on Wednesday with the signing of Austria international centre-back Martin Hinteregger from FC Red Bull Salzburg.

The former Borussia Mönchengladbach defender has signed on a two-year deal, with the fee between the two clubs remaining undisclosed.

Augsburg have also loaned out Albian Ajeti to Swiss club FC St. Gallen on a one-year deal.

Desperate to return to Germany

The 23-year-old has spent the majority of his career so far with Salzburg. He played 143 Austrian Bundesliga games for them, winning four titles along the away. He also has vast European experience, having played 48 games in both the UEFA Europa League and the qualifying stages of the UEFA Champions League.

He signed for Gladbach on a loan in January, but made just ten appearances for them in defence, his last being from the bench in the 1-0 defeat against FC Ingolstadt 04. The club decided against exercising its option to buy him in the summer.

Hinteregger had a brief spell with Gladbach last season. | Photo: Kronen Zeitung/GEPA
Hinteregger had a brief spell with Gladbach last season. | Photo: Kronen Zeitung/GEPA

However Hinteregger has admitted that he wanted to stay in Germany “I was desperate to play in the Bundesliga again and saw FCA as the perfect club with which to return,” he told Augsburg’s website. “There has been a lot of progress made at the club in recent years and now I want to help the team achieve our goals.”

“It wasn’t easy [to complete the transfer] but in the end it was worth staying patient right towards the end,” added sporting director Stefan Reuter, who also confirmed the club would make no more signings ahead of the transfer window closing at 6pm German time.

Ajeti to gain extra experience

Following the decision to let out Tim Matavz out on loan to 1. FC Nürnberg on Tuesday, they have now loaned out another forward in Ajeti.

The 19-year-old joined Augsburg from FC Basel in January, but he has so far only made one appearance, against SV Darmstadt 98 in March. He will now return to Switzerland with St. Gallen in order to gain extra experience.

Ajeti in pre-season action for Augsburg. | Photo: FC Augsburg
Ajeti in pre-season action for Augsburg. | Photo: FC Augsburg

"Albian Ajeti needs regular game time in order for him to develop,” said Reuter on the move. “He is a very talented player and we are convinced that he will get more playing time at FC St. Gallen and will therefore be able to take the next step in his career there.

“Albian is a highly talented player, who despite his young age already has an eye for goal,” said St. Gallen’s sporting director Christian Stübi, who believes that he will fit in with his new teammates very well.

Quotes via FC Augsburg and FC St. Gallen.

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