Hamburg - Hamburger SV have completed the double signing of Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdal from Serie A side Cagliari Calcio and Swiss goalkeeper Andreas Hirzel from FC Vaduz.

Up for the challenge

Hamburg's latest recruits have inked four- and three-year deals respectively, and have already linked up with their new team-mates at their Harsewinkel training camp.

"I'm happy it's gone through, I'm looking forward to playing for Hamburg and in the Bundesliga," 25-year-old Ekdal told club website www.hsv.de. "After leaving Sweden, I played in Italy's Serie A. I'm sure that the game in Germany is quicker and more physical. I'll have to get used to that fast. I'm ready for the new challenge."

Ekdal started his professional career at Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna in 2007, before moving to Juventus FC after completing his school exams in summer 2008. The 17-time Sweden international was loaned out to Siena SSD for the 2009-10 campaign, establishing himself as a regular in the side. He left a similarly good impression during a fleeting spell at Bologna FC, before signing a permanent deal with Cagliari in 2011.

22-year-old Hirzel, who is a former Under-16, U-17 and U-18 Switzerland international, has represented a number of Swiss sides including FC Baden, Grasshopper Club Zürich II and Vaduz.

Translation: In the bag. Albin Ekdal has signed a four-year contract. He's already on the team bus. Welcome!

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Translation: Done deal: Andreas Hirzel signs a three-year deal and is already at the training camp.