Brentford have completed the signing of Germany Under-21 international Vitaly Janelt from Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, better known as VfL Bochum. The 22-year-old completed a medical on Thursday, 1 October, and finalised his transfer late yesterday. He has signed a four-year contract. Vitaly will join The Bees for an undisclosed fee subject to international clearance.

Thomas Frank, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “I am very pleased that Vitaly has signed for us. He is another exciting player that we have been able to add to the squad. He is a midfielder who can play in a variety of roles.

“He is composed on the ball and is comfortable playing the possession-based game that we want to play. He is dynamic in his play and strong in the middle when it comes to duels. Most importantly, he has the aggressiveness and intensity in the high press that we want to have. He also has the ability to get around the pitch, which is important, not just in the Championship, but in modern football generally.”

Rasmus Ankersen, Brentford FC Co-Director of Football, added: “Vitaly is a very talented and game intelligent player. He will need some time to adapt to English football, but he has all the physical attributes to do well here."

Vitaly played the later years of his academy career at Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. but left the former European Cup winners after his Under-17 season. He moved to RasenBallsport Leipzig e.V. and played his first professional games for RB Leipzig II when he was 18. Vitaly had already had a loan spell at Bochum and made a permanent switch in January 2017. He played 54 games for Bochum scoring two goals, 53 of those games coming in the Zweite Bundesliga, the second tier of German football.

Vitaly has also been a regular part of the German team at youth levels. His first appearances for his country came at Under-15 level and he has also played for Germany at Under-17, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 level. He played for Germany in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and UEFA Under-17 European Championships in 2015. Vitaly was part of the side that lost to France in the final of the European Championships and reached the last 16 of the World Cup.