Konstantin Kerschbaumer has signed for German second tier side DSC Arminia Bielefeld on loan for the 2017/18 season. The Austrian midfield player linked up with the 2. Bundesliga outfit yesterday, Tuesday 27 June, and completed the loan switch this morning.

The central midfield player, who will turn 25 this week, has been with Brentford for two years after signing from FC Admira Wacker Mödling for an undisclosed fee. Prior to linking up with Arminia, Konstantin agreed for an option year to be inserted in to his contract. This gives Brentford the right to extend the deal for one more year, until 2020, at the end of his current contract.

Austrian youth international Konstantin joined Admira in January 2015 and made a big impact in the Austrian top division – the Austrian Bundesliga – playing 16 games between 14 February and the end of the season, scoring once. He has been a regular in the Brentford match day squad in his two years at Griffin Park but has mostly been used as a substitute. He has played 52 games in all competitions for The Bees, 27 of them off the bench.

Konstantin, who was on the books of SK Rapid Wien – better known as Rapid Vienna – as a youngster, also played for SKN St. Pölten before arriving at Brentford. He has played 50 Sky Bet Championship games in two years in West London, 27 of them from the start. Konstantin’s only Brentford goal came in the 3-3 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in February.

Dean Smith, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “When we reviewed last season, Kersch was obviously disappointed with the lack of game time during the first two thirds of the season and was looking for guarantees for this season. With the quality we have in the squad, we cannot guarantee game time for anyone. I fully understood his concerns, that at his age he needs to be playing regular football and we felt it was in the best interests of both Kersch and the Club that he went out on loan somewhere to get the game time he desires.

“We have allowed him to join Arminia Bielefeld on loan so he can get the games he needs. Playing regular matches will keep his development going, not playing regularly could stall his progress and we do not want that. He is a player we still have high hopes for.”