Geiger opts to extend with Hoffenheim
Amid multiple exit links, Germany U21 international Dennis Geiger has opted to extend with his youth academy club after all. Speaking at Thursday presser, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo expressed confidence that the 24-year-old could one day play for the German national team.
Despite rumors linking him with a move to a different club, midfielder Dennis Geiger will remain in Sinsheim. The 24-year-old extended his expiring contract on Thursday and has inked a deal that will ideally keep him in Kraichgau through 2027. Michael Pfeiffer of Germany's Kicker magazine reports that the player and club have agreed on an exit clause.
"I have thought long and hard about my future," Geiger noted in a statement released by the club accompanying the signing, "TSG is my sporting home and I want to continue playing football here. I'm firmly convinced that we can still achieve a lot on our mutual, and I'll do everything I can to play my part."
"Dennis is a prime example of the Hoffenheim way," TSG sporting director Alexander Rosen added, "As a child of the region who grew up in our academy, he stands for identification, passion and loyalty. His contract extension is a sign of trust for both sides that is certainly not common in this business. He has recently become more and more of a leading figure in our team."
Head-coach Pellegrino Matarazzo also commented on the extension during his Thursday pre-match presser. The newly appointed TSG trainer remarked that he had immediately recognized the talent inherent in the 24-year-old and predicted that the German youth international had a promising future ahead of him.
"For me, he is one of the most interesting sixes in the Bundesliga," Matarazzo said, "He's a great lad. You can work very well with him. He is very receptive and enjoys great respect within the team. I have a lot of confidence in him to play for the national team at some point. I can sense that potential."
Vertrag verlängert? Na denn is gut! #Geiger2027 pic.twitter.com/HQyQrNjFy6
— TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) April 20, 2023