Roma sign Stuttgart's Ruediger on loan for four million euros ...

VfB Stuttgart central defender Antonio Ruediger has joined Italy's Roma on a one-year loan deal with an option for a permanent move, the clubs said on Wednesday.

The tall 22-year-old, who is recovering from a meniscus operation in his right knee, passed a medical check in the Italian capital earlier this week.

"AS Roma are pleased to announce that German defender Antonio Ruediger has joined on a season-long loan from Stuttgart for a fee of four million euros. The agreement also includes the option to make the transfer permanent from the 2016-17 season for a fee of nine million euros," Roma said in a statement.

Ruediger joined Stuttgart as a teenager in 2011 and has so far won six caps for Germany after making his first appearance last year.

"I have to thank VfB for a lot of things. I was a junior player here and became a Germany international. It was always special to wear the VfB shirt," said the player in a Stuttgart statement.