Hertha Berlin have signed defender Christoph Janker on a free transfer from Bundesliga rivals Hoffenheim.

The 24-year-old's contract with Hoffenheim expires at the end of June, making him a free agent and allowing him to move to Berlin without commanding a fee.

He has agreed a two-year deal with Hoffenheim which includes an automatic option for another year depending on appearances.

"A transfer to Hertha BSC is the next step in my development," said Janker. "I would like to play as many games as possible and am looking forward to the great atmosphere inside the Olympiastadion."

Janker will fight for a place in the Berlin defence alongside Josip Simunic, who has just been voted the club's player of the season.

Simunic received 15.7 per cent of the votes cast by almost 100,000 fans on the club's website to edge out Marko Pantelic (15.6 per cent), with goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny picking up 7.3 per cent of the vote in third place.