Champions go shopping: Leicester City sign German goalkeeper Zieler from Hannover

London, United Kingdom:  Leicester City have signed Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler on a four-year deal from Bundesliga side Hannover 96 for an undisclosed fee, the English Premier League champions said on Friday.

Zieler, 27, one of two back-up keepers to Manuel Neuer in the Germany squad that won the 2014 World Cup, will compete for a place in Leicester’s starting side with current Foxes number one Kasper Schmeichel. “It feels great coming to Leicester and joining the club after they’ve had such a great season -– it’s really nice to be part of the club now,” Zieler told Foxes Player HD after signing a contract set to keep him at the King Power Stadium until 2020. [caption id=“attachment_2815802” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] New Leicester City signing Ron-Robert Zieler. AFP[/caption] Zieler is the first addition to Leicester’s squad since the one-time 5,000/1 outsiders were crowned champions of England. “I’ve been shown around the training ground and it looks very good and I’ve been to the stadium -– I heard about the great atmosphere and the great fans, so my first impression is very good,” added Zieler, who already knows several of Leicester’s squad, having played in the same Manchester United academy side as Danny Simpson, Danny Drinkwater, Ritchie De Laet and Matty James. Zieler will add experience as Leicester begin both the defence of their Premier League title and take part in the club’s first Champions League campaign in 2016/17. A veteran of more than 200 domestic and European appearances with Hannover, Zieler has also won six Germany caps since making his debut in 2011. Domestically he has been an ever-present in Hannover 96’s previous five Bundesliga campaigns and helped them reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2011/12, when they went out to eventual winners Atletico Madrid. The Cologne-born keeper launched his career in England by joining the Manchester United academy in 2005. But having not made any first-team appearances while at Old Trafford, Zieler joined Hannover on a free transfer before the start of the 2010/11 season. Zieler will link up with his new team-mates when they return to training in July, ahead of a pre-season schedule where Leicester will have International Champions Cup matches against Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Celtic.