Berlin, Jul 30 (IANS): Bundesliga newcomer Darmstadt bolstered their defence with the signing of Costa Rica international Junior Diaz.

The Mainz defender joined Darmstadt with immediate effect after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract that keeps him until June 2017 with the "Lilien", Xinhua news agency quoted the football club as saying on Wednesday.

"Junior Diaz will be a tremendous reinforcement for our team. We need players with his Bundesliga experience. He also proved his qualities on the international level," Darmstadt head coach Dirk Schuster said.

Junior Diaz provided overall five assists and two goals in 57 Bundesliga appearances for Mainz. He is since 2003 part of Costa Rica's national team where he scored one goal in 67 caps.

"I am very happy to be part of this team. Those responsible absolutely convinced me," Diaz said.

Newly-promoted Darmstadt host Hannover at the first round of the Bundesliga new season on August 15.