Leverkusen snare Swiss striker Drmic

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Josip Drmic from relegated 1. FC Nürnberg, with the Switzerland striker chasing the dream of playing in the UEFA Champions League.

Leverkusen have qualified for the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League play-offs with a fourth-placed Bundesliga finish and are hoping that the 21-year-old Drmic – landed for an undisclosed fee on a contract that expires in 2019 – can help them make it to the group stage. Drmic joined Nürnberg from FC Zürich last summer and ended the season as the third-highest scorer in Germany's top division with 17 goals, though his side could not avoid the drop.

"It is really hard for me to leave the club like this," admitted Drmic, who is expected to feature for Switzerland at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil. "Despite the sad end to the season, I had a great time there, but now I want to compete at the top of the Bundesliga with Bayer 04 and finally get to the Champions League. That is a dream for every footballer. Leverkusen have a great team and convinced me that moving there is the right decision."

Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Völler added: "We were up against prestigious opposition for his signature and are happy that Josip Drmic decided to join us. A player like him gives us additional options in attack. He is fast, assertive and can be used on the wings as well as in the centre. Josip is a top player who perfectly fits our plans."