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Berlin - Wolfsburg have showed on Monday they are ready to compete in the Bundesliga over the long haul, sealing a last-minute deal with Chelsea for Germany midfielder Andre Schürrle.
After days of negotiations with the English club, Wolfsburg are believed to have paid a club record €32 million for the 24-year-old Schürrle, who signed on a contract with Wolfsburg until 2019.
The Schurrle fee surpasses the €22 million Wolfsburg paid about a year ago to Chelsea for Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
"Nowadays you have to pay this kind of money," Wolfsburg general manager Klaus Allofs said after the deal was done.
"We want to achieve our goals."
The 2009 champions Wolfsburg lie second in Bundesliga and beat champions and leaders Bayern Munich 4-1 on Friday.
They trail Munich by eight points and want to return to the Champions League next season.
Wolfsburg registered Schürrle on the German Football League's transfer list by the midday deadline as negotiations continued with Chelsea to complete the deal on the last day of the January transfer window.
Club general manager Klaus Allofs told reporters Monday after the midday deadline for registrations that the clubs were still to reach an agreement over the fee.
In Germany transfers have to be registered by midday and completed by 19:00 (SA time) on Monday's final day for dealing.
"It's about money, that's simple to answer," Allofs said.
"Whether this is of greater or lesser significance everyone will judge for themselves."
Schürrle moved to Chelsea in 2013 from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of some €22 million.
