Öztunali returns to hometown club
Hamburger SV's third summer signing brings a native son back to his academy club.
Union Berlin midfielder Levin Öztunali - the grandson of HSV legend Uwe Seeler - is headed back home. A decade after departing the club he represented in his youth for greener pastures, the 27-year-old will play return to the Volkspark Stadion in the 2. Bundesliga next year. Öztunali racked up 190 top-tier appearances for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, SV Werder Bremen, FSV Mainz 05, and Union in the intervening years.
The former German youth international scored 12 goals and registered 26 assists in his Bundesliga career with the four clubs. At Union, Öztunali's career stalled recently and he made just two short appearances this past year. His contract status with Union enabled him to join HSV on a free transfer.
Öztunali left Hamburg under somewhat of a dark cloud ten years ago. His famous grandfather - who passed away just last summer - made no secret of the fact that he wasn't happy with how club management had treated his progeny at the time. Seeler himself represented the HSV for 19 uninterrupted years. Öztunali will now get a chance to play for "der Dino" at senior level for the first time.
"I have always followed HSV, but only as an opponent or fan in the Volksparkstadion," the player noted in a statement released by the club, "Now to be able to play here as an HSV professional is an absolute dream for me. I'm just happy to be back here."