German midfielder Michael Ballack has rejoined his old club Bayer Leverkusen on a two year deal.
Ballack, who is missing from the World Cup in South Africa after picking up an ankle injury in Chelsea’s FA Cup final defeat of Portsmouth in May, was released by Chelsea at the end of last season.
“My return to Bayer 04 Leverkusen is like closing the circle. I had an enjoyable and successful time with the club, which I look back on with pleasure,†said Ballack in a statement on the club’s official website.
“This was one factor in my decision to join Leverkusen, as were the good sporting opportunities for this young and attractive team. I’m really looking forward to the great fans, who were of course another reason for deciding to return to Bayer 04 Leverkusen,†he added.
Following his release from Chelsea, Ballack was reportedly a target for a number of big European clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Wolfsburg and Real Madrid, but the 33-year old decided to return to the club that he played with from 1999 to 2002, a spell which included a Champions League final appearance against Real Madrid in May 2002, in which the German side suffered a 2-1 defeat.
