DUNDEE UNITED have given German keeper Luis Zwick a professional contract after he played for free to win himself a deal.
The 21-year-old joined the Tannadice club as an amateur last summer from FC Hertha 03 Zehlendorf but impressed manager Jackie McNamara with his performances for United's youth team.
The Berlin-born stopper had to overcome a bout of homesickness and problems with the language barrier but McNamara now expects Zwick to compete for the club's No.1 spot after giving him a two-year contract.
Goalkeeping coach Craig Hinchliffe said: "Luis fully deserves his contract. His story is fantastic and shows how determination and desire mixed with ability can achieve goals.
"He is an excellent technical goalkeeper - a modern goalkeeper if you like, fantastic with the ball at his feet - and has proved he has the mental strength to succeed. He is one of three goalkeepers at the club who have the opportunity to prove they merit the first-team goalkeeper's jersey.
"We have chosen to not give out the '1' squad number because we have three goalkeepers all capable of playing in the Scottish Premiership and over pre-season, one will prove to me they deserve the jersey."
Zwick added: "I have worked very hard to show my ability and I am delighted and proud to sign as a professional for United.
"I have improved greatly in my time here and was aware that continued hard work and playing well would see an opportunity to move into the first team squad. My target is to now play games, continue my development and make an effort to secure the goalkeeper's jersey for the first team."
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