Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel (r.) highlighted Gonzalo Jara's "strong World Cup displays" upon the Chilean completing his move to the Bundesliga (© Mainz 05)
Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel (r.) highlighted Gonzalo Jara's "strong World Cup displays" upon the Chilean completing his move to the Bundesliga (© Mainz 05)

Mainz snap up Chile's World Cup star Jara

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Mainz - 1. FSV Mainz 05 have completed their second signing of the summer ahead of the 2014/15 Bundesliga campaign having acquired the services of Chile’s 2014 FIFA World Cup star Gonzalo Jara.

’A perfect fit’

The 28-year-old right-back joins the Rhineland-Palatinate outfit from Nottingham Forest FC on a two-year deal which includes an option to extend the contract for a further year.

“Having played in England for many years I am now very much looking forward to the challenge that is the Bundesliga. I can’t wait to meet my new team-mates as well as get to know the Coface Arena and the Mainz fans,” the 69-time Chilean international said.

Jara, who made 48 appearances for Forest after joining the club in January 2013, will join up with his new team-mates on Wednesday morning for his first training session. “He’s a versatile player and fits the bill perfectly,” said Mainz head coach Kasper Hjulmand. “He’s industrious, a good tackler, technically strong, good in the build-up and a real team player.”

The former CSD Colo-Colo star featured for the full 90 minutes in all four of Chile’s 2014 World Cup outings as the South Americans went out in the Round of 16, where Jara missed a spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out against hosts Brazil.