Justin Che and Umut Tohumcu receive promotions to TSG senior side
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim announced new professional contracts for U23 players Justin Che and Umut Tohumcu on Wednesday.
American center back Justin Che (19) and Turkish midfielder Umut Tohumcu (18) are the latest two Bundesliga club players to benefit from a chance to prove themselves before their trainer during an extended training camp over the World Cup break. Both Che and Tohumcu have already made their Bundesliga debuts for die Kraichgauer, but spent the first-half of this season with the reserves.
Che - A German-American prospect who once trained on the FC Bayern Campus - is considered a top prospect with an estimated market worth of €3 million. Tohumucu has scored five goals and registered five assists for the TSG reserves in their Regionalliga. Both players are also eligible to represent Germany.
"Umut and Justin have attracted attention during the winter training and have earned this step," TSG trainer André Breitenreiter noted in a statement on the club's website, "We always have our eyes open for such developments. For me, it's all the more pleasing because TSG's philosophy, which also matches my own as a coach, is manifested in these moves."
"These decisions are emblematic of our path, which we are pursuing consistently and with full conviction," TSG personnel boss Alexander Rosen added, "It was, is and will remain an essential part of our identity to promote young players in an environment that is virtually optimal for talent and to prepare them for professional football. This is the credo we've have always lived by."
Glückwunsch, Jungs 👏
— TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) January 18, 2023
Umut #Tohumcu und @JustinChe6 gehören ab sofort dauerhaft zur Mannschaft von Coach André #Breitenreiter.