AMSTERDAM – Union Berlin have won the race to sign Bobby Wood away from 1860 Munich, inking the US forward to a three-year deal on Monday.
Having spent the back half of last season on loan to relegated Erzgebirge Aue, the 22-year-old was the subject of heavy transfer interest all summer. Wood's agent confirmed to MLSsoccer.com last week that the Hawaii native had a stack of offers inside Germany, as well as some budding interest from around Europe.
However, they've all come in second for the services of Wood, who becomes manager Norbert Düwel's ninth signing of the summer.
"We are pleased to have Bobby Wood in our ranks from now," Düwel told the club website. "With him, we get a very fast and robust striker, who both plays for the team, as well as radiating a goal-lust of his own. He brings second-division experience and was recently able to show his class for the US national team. Bobby is on the right development track, which he now has agreed to continue with us."
As for Wood, he is pleased to have club life settled following a season of uncertainty. He opened the campaign with two assists in four 1860 starts before clashing with then-manager Markus von Ahlen. After notching three goals and a helper in 10 games for Aue, as well as starring for the US national team in June, new Lions coach Torsten Fröhling tried to convince to forward to stay.
His pleas were to no avail, and now Wood can start work with a Union Berlin side chasing their first promotion to the German top division in 80 years. He's already joined their preseason camp and will begin training on Tuesday.
"I had very good discussions with the directors and quickly realized that the Union can be the right place for me," said Wood. "It is a special club with great goals, and I want to show what I have here. Now I will to quickly get to know everyone and try to find my place in the team."
Union Berlin will open the new 2.Bundesliga season with a July 26 visit from one of Wood's summer suitors, Fortuna Düsseldorf.
