Confirmed: Hertha bring Leistner back to the capital
Hertha BSC officially confirmed the capture of veteran leader Toni Leistner on Friday evening.
Following a passed medical, central defender Toni Leistner was quickly unveiled as a new Hertha BSC player late Friday evening. The Dresden native brings with him extensive experience in the German second division, having contested 154 2. Bundesliga fixtures for Union Berlin, Hamburger SV, and his initial professional club of Dynamo Dresden.
After goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck (KSC), versatile attacker Jeremy Dudziak (Fürth) and wingers Fabian Reese (Holstein Kiel) and Gustav Christensen (Midtjylland/U 19), the 32-year-old defender is new arrival number five at Hertha BSC. The Hertha administrative team still looked to unload as many as five players off its previous top-tier roster.
"Toni is a leader who knows how to hold his own both on the ground and in the air and is very familiar with the 2nd Bundesliga," Hertha sporting director Benjamin Weber remarked in a statement accompanying the signing, "his experience will be good for our team. We firmly believe that he will quickly convince with his passionate commitment."
"I immediately sensed that I'm up for the task and have great enthusiasm for the Berlin way at Hertha," the player himself added, "With my experience, I want to go forward, perform and make my contribution to a successful season."