Relegated Fürth extend contacts of Tillman and Asta
Relegated Bundesliga side SpVgg Greuther Fürth confirmed contract extensions for midfielder Timothy Tillman and defender Simon Asta on Wednesday.
Two SpVgg Greuther Fürth players on expiring contracts saw their working papers with the relegated Kleeblätter extended on Monday. German-American midfielder Timothy Tillman and new Germany U21 international Simon Asta will continue to play for the club in the second division next season.
Tillman, a former FC Bayern München prospect and older brother of current FCB prospect Malik Tillman, had an automatic renewal option in his current contract. Club sporting director Rachid Azzouzi, in announcing the transaction, noted that the club also wanted to keep one of its regular starters beyond next year.
"With Timmy it was always the case that we would pull the renewal option," Azzouzi is quoted as saying on the club's website, "Irrespective of that, we will also hold talks on a contract extension in the coming weeks. [Tillman] Has developed very well and been able to establish himself as a regular on our team this season."
Asta also earned a regular starting spot with the Middle Franconians recently after right-back Marco Meyerhöfer went down with a season-ending injury.
The 21-year-old Augsburg native, who joined Fürth in 2020, recently earned his first call up to the Germany U21s and made his debut for Antonio di Salvo's Juniors over the last international break.
Asta contract was extended through the end of the 2023/24 season.
"Simon works very hard on his game and always seeks to improve," Azzouzi said, "He possesses precisely the attitude that we need, so we're very pleased to have banded him for another two years."
Statements from both Asta and Tillman were released on the Kleeblatt website. Asta called the club "a good place for young players like me" while Tillman thanked the club for the opportunity to develop.
"I owe a lot to the club," Tillman is quoted as saying, "I got the trust here to develop at my own pace and it's not over yet."
Die Tinte ist trocken ✒✔
— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) May 4, 2022
Das #Kleeblatt hat die Verträge von Simon #Asta und Timothy #Tillman verlängert. Alle Infos 👇🏼https://t.co/arq8SUZg0P