Hertha Berlin have made their second signing this winter before the transfer window officially opens on 1 January by securing the services of Levan Kobiashvili from Bundesliga rivals Schalke.

The 32-year-old has signed a contract valid until the end of the season with an automatic extension by two years should Berlin avoid relegation to the second division. Neither club have revealed details of the fee, which is likely to be only nominal.

He arrives hot on the heels of Theofanis Gekas, who has signed on a similar deal from Bayer Leverkusen. "We are delighted that Levan will come to us," said Berlin's general manager Michael Preetz. "With his experience, he will undoubtedly give us more stability."

The Georgia international has played for both Freiburg and Schalke since arriving in Germany in 1998, although he has only made four appearances under Schalke boss Felix Magath this season.