Iranian forward Vahid Hashemian has agreed to rejoin VfL Bochum 1848 from Bundesliga rivals Hannover 96 this summer on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old played for Bochum between 2001 and 2004 and has now signed a two-year contract which will keep him at the club until summer 2010, with the option of a further 12 months. He has played 135 Bundesliga games for Hamburger SV, FC Bayern München, Hannover and Bochum, scoring 35 times. "I am looking forward to a return to my German home," he said.