Player profile

The Bayern Munich left-back spent the latter half of the 2009/10 season on loan at Celtic, where he made 10 SPL appearances. A fast, solid defender who likes to attack, Braafheid will provide cover for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and is his most likely successor in the national team. He can also play at centre-back.

Braafheid began his club career with FC Utrecht in 2003 before moving to FC Twente in 2007, where he impressed at both full-back and in the centre of defence. His performances caught the eye of PSV and Ajax, but he opted instead to move to German giants Bayern Munich under countryman Louis van Gaal last summer.

However, the 26-year-old found his opportunities in Munich limited and after only five Bundesliga starts, he signed on loan for Celtic on the final day of the January transfer window in the hope of securing a World Cup spot. Braafheid still has three years left on his Bayern contract and says he will return to Germany after the World Cup following positive talks with van Gaal.