Hoffenheim sign Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley
Hoffenheim have boosted their forward line with the signing of former Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst on a season-long loan from English Premier League outfit Burnley.
The 31-year-old, who netted 70 goals in 144 games for the Wolves, including 59 in 118 Bundesliga outings, moved to England in the 2021/22 January transfer window, but could not stop the Clarets from being relegated to the second tier.
Following an impressive loan spell with Besiktas during the first half of the following campaign, the Netherlands international was picked up on a temporary basis by Manchester United, where he found the back of the net twice in 31 matches.
Those two transfers sandwiched the 2022 FIFA World Cup, during which Die Oranje’s number nine scored twice against Argentina in the quarter-finals, although Lionel Messi and Co. ultimately prevailed on penalties.
“I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I describe this transfer as remarkable and extraordinary. In any case, that's what he is for us,” said TSG managing director Alexander Rosen. “The fact that a striker with this CV and these options has chosen Hoffenheim shows that this club also has an attraction for renowned players.
“We decided on a specific profile in our search for a striker and have been working calmly, meticulously and with the necessary emphasis on various levels for several weeks now, not on the fastest solution, but on the best possible solution. We believe we have found this in Wout and expect his mentality, experience and accuracy to be a boost for the entire team. The talks with him have impressed me and we can look forward to a strong-minded character with a big heart in the TSG jersey.”
While Weghorst was unable to show the full extent of his ability in England, his track record in Germany suggests he could be a key player for Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team this campaign. After 45 goals in 86 games for AZ Alkmaar back in his homeland, Wolfsburg swooped for the 6’5’’ centre-forward, who quickly established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most consistent goalscorers.
He found the back of the net at least 16 times in each of his three full Bundesliga campaigns, even reaching the 20-goal mark in 2020/21.
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“I had a few opportunities and have given a lot of thought to my future over the past few weeks. The people in charge at TSG made a huge effort for me and have shown me a high level of appreciation,” said Weghorst, who will wear the No.10 shirt.
“That impressed me a lot and it just feels right to be here now. It's even nicer that all talks have now been concluded positively and that the transfer to TSG could be completed. I would like to return the trust placed in me on the pitch and make my contribution to a successful season.”
Weghorst is Die Kraichgauer’s fifth signing of the summer, joining Attila Sallai, Marius Bülter, Julian Justvan and the returning Florian Grillitsch. He will compete with the club’s record goalscorer, Andrej Kramaric, and Ihlas Bebou for a starting spot following Munas Dabbur’s move to the United Arab Emirates.
Hoffenheim’s season will kick off with a visit to VfB Lübeck in the first round of the DFB Cup (14 August) before hosting Freiburg on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 Bundesliga (19 August).
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