Algerian international Karim Matmour has become the first signing of head coach David Wagner at Huddersfield Town – who knows his new man well.

The 30-year-old forward is a free agent after leaving Kuwait club Al-Arabi, and was with the Town squad for the FA Cup third-round replay defeat at Reading.

Matmour has signed a contract running until the end of the current season and Town have the option of a further season’s extension at the conclusion of the campaign.

Wagner said: “Karim is a good player, who I know well from his time in Germany.

“He is quick, has great endurance and is a very good person also, which is very important. It is not normal that we would be able to get a player of his quality with no transfer fee.

“He can play in all four attacking positions, on the right, on the left, as a number 10 or number nine.

“This strengthens our forwards and will help me make good decisions to keep them fresh.

Karim Matmour of Algeria sits on the ground after a tackle by Jamie Carragher of England during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and Algeria
Karim Matmour of Algeria sits on the ground after a tackle by Jamie Carragher of England during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and Algeria

“He knows the ideas we want to bring onto the pitch and should only need a couple of weeks for his fitness to be ideal.

“He has been training with Strasbourg and is like Jonathan Hogg in that his base of fitness is very good.

“This is one of his main qualities. His English is also good, which is important.”

Matmour, who left Al-Arabi in October after a contract dispute, played in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa for Algeria, including the goalless draw with England in Cape Town, and has played almost 300 games across the Bundesliga.

Wagner has been keen to add to his current main forward options of Nahki Wells, Ishmael Miller, Jamie Paterson, Harry Bunn, Joe Lolley and Sean Scannell – and Karim will wear shirt number 10 this season.

FA Cup 3rd round replay - Reading v Huddersfield Town - David Wagner.

Born in France, Karim started his career in the Academy at his hometown club RC Strasbourg, but moved to Germany to turn professional at SC Freiburg.

He played 83 times for the club in the Bundesliga 2, scoring 11 goals across three seasons. He also earned his first of 30 caps for Algeria during his time at Freiburg.

His form earned him a move to Borussia Monchengladbach for a reported fee of €2m in June 2008, where he signed a four year contract and he played for three seasons in Germany’s top flight, making 82 appearances.

As a Gladbach player, Karim represented Algeria in the 2010 World Cup and in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the Greens to a fourth placed finish.

In 2011, Matmour joined Eintracht Frankfurt and helped his new club gain promotion to the Bundesliga in his first season, scoring six goals in 30 appearances. Another 22 Bundesliga appearances followed in 2012/13.

Karim joined Bundesliga 2 side Kaiserslautern in the summer of 2013, for whom he made 64 appearances. In total, Karim has made 101 appearances in German top division – scoring five times – and has 163 Bundesliga 2 appearances, scoring 21 goals.