The Newcastle Jets have signed Swiss defender Dominik Ritter to a one-year contract.
Ritter has been playing with Swiss Challenge League club FC Winterthur since the 2009/10 season but made just six appearances for the team last season.
Ritter was initially loaned to Winterthur from FC Basel, where he was a member of their under-21 squad and also made the senior team for one appearance.
However the Jets have opted to give him a chance as coach Gary van Egmond gets the opportunity to build his squad, having inherited a team from former coach Branko Culina, who was sacked just before the league kicked off last year.
Dominik can play as fullback, which is his preferred position, or a left side stopper, van Egmond said.
He has a lot of pace, he will suit our style of play and we will have good competition for spots in the backs.
He is at a good age to be coming here, he has his best years ahead of him and we look forward to welcoming him to Newcastle and having him at the Jets.
The 23-year-old will start training with the Jets next Monday.
I am looking forward to arriving in Newcastle and settling in at the Jets, he said.
It will be a great challenge to come and play for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League and I can t wait.
