1. FC Union Berlin have completed the second bit of transfer business for the new season, completing the signing of Greuther Fürth central defender Paul Jaeckel.

The 22-year-old is from Eisenhüttenstadt – around 120km from Berlin – and was developed in both the academy of Energie Cottbus and VfL Wolfsburg. In 2018, Jaeckel took his big step into first-team football at 2.Bundesliga promotion-chasers Greuther Fürth. The right-footed defender, who stands at 1.89m tall, established himself in the first-team and has played 19 games in the 2020/21 season. Under Bruno Labbadia's management at Wolfsburg, Jaeckel got a sniff of Bundesliga football, making his debut in a 2-0 win over Freiburg in 2018. The defender has also been called up for Germany's U21 national team.

"I'm looking forward to Union and the Bundesliga," the 22-year-old said. "For me, the move means I have the chance to play in one of the best leagues in Europe. Union is a special club, is still very young in the Bundesliga, but have proven their quality. That's my target: I want to do everything to become an important part of the team."

"Paul has been developed really well and is a reflective young player who has already proven himself in the top half of the 2.Bundesliga. We are pleased to be able to win this talented player for us and trust him to take the next step in his career, now in the Bundesliga with us," added Oliver Ruhnert, 1. FC Union Berlin's Managing Director for Professional Football.