Darmstadt pick up Scottish striker
Newly promoted Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 unveiled their fourth summer signing on Wednesday afternoon.
Following the singings of Fabian Nürnberger, Andreas Müller, and Matej Maglica, newly promoted Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 have now confirmed a new addition to their striker corps. Twenty-three-year-old former Scottish youth international Fraser Hornby joins the Lillies on a transfer from French side Stade Reims. The center-forward's new contract in Hessen runs through 2027.
The well-traveled striker was loaned out by his French parent club twice in the last two years, accruing experience for both Aberdeen in his home country and KV Oostende in Belgium. As a youth, Hornby trained at Everton. The Merseyside Blues also once loaned him out to Belgium. In total, the attacker has netted 11 goals and recorded two assists in the Jupiler Pro League.
The amount Darmstadt paid Reims for their new addition was not disclosed. The surprise signing caught most German football watchers unprepared as it seemed to come form nowhere. SV sporting director Carsten Wehlmann and head-coach Torsten Lieberknecht nevertheless noted that they had spent many hours scouting the player and, based on all the research, considered him a perfect fit for the current squad.
"Our scouting department has spent a lot of time and energy to find Fraser," Lieberknecht noted in a club statement, "this is striker who fits exactly into our sought-after profile."
"It's a great club with a familial feeling," the player himself added, "and I'm sure I'll quickly find my feet here. It's great thing to be headed to the Bundesliga."