Ghanaian defender Marcel Appiah has signed a two-year contract with German third-tier side VfL Osnabruck, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively confirm.

The 28-year-old joins the Liga 3 side on a free transfer after leaving Dutch side NEC Nijmegen where he made a total of 50 Eredivisie appearances in two seasons.

Appiah passed medicals and officially signed the deal on Monday afternoon to complete his return to Germany, a country where he was born.

The Schwelm-born spent six seasons with former Bundesliga campaigners Arminia Bielefeld before leaving for the Dutch league where he secured regular playing time in the top-flight.

Osnabruck Sporting Director Lothar Gans believes the experienced lateral defender would provide a solution to the club's defensive problems in the new season.

"With his playing style and flexibility Marcel met exactly our requirements," he said.

"Marcel is strong in the tackle, athletic, technically gifted and has a good build-up play. With these conditions, he fits perfectly into our viable team," he added.

Appiah, born to a Ghanaian father and a German mother, started his career in Germany with Schalke 04 before leaving to join TSG Sprockhövel and SG Wattenscheid 09.