Stuttgart return striker Pfeiffer to Darmstadt
Newly promoted Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 have augmented their attacking corps with a season-long loan-deal for VfB Stuttgart's Luca Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer actually returns to the Hessen-based club for his second loan-out to Darmstadt in three years.
Former FC Midtjylland striker Luca Pfieffer will spend the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign on loan in Hessen. Newly promoted top-tier side SV Darmstadt 98 confirmed their second loan-deal with VfB Stuttgart ahead of the coming season on Thursday afternoon. Darmstadt took Stuttgart defender Matej Maglica on loan earlier this summer.
Pfeiffer actually returns to the Hessen-based club for his second loan-out to Darmstadt in three years.
Pfeiffer arrived in Swabia last summer from Denmark for a reported price of around €2.8 million. The 26-year-old was unable to get his name on the scoresheet in 19 league appearances, but did net two goals and notch an assist in the Pokal. Pfeiffer hopes to regain his form at his old stomping ground. He scored 17 goals and registered six assists whilst playing for Darmstadt on loan in the 2. Bundesliga during the 2021/22 season.
The Lillies find themselves desperate to bolster an attack that scored just one goal in the pre-season prep friendlies. Head-coach Torsten Lieberknecht, under whom he served, issued a statement in which he declared himself "proud to call Luca my player again". The SV trainer also noted that he was prepared to insert Pfeiffer into the squad without delay.
"I had wonderful year in Darmstadt," Pfeiffer himself added in statement, "I continued to follow the Lilies closely last season, of course, and was very happy about the promotion. I also always had contact with many people at the club and am now very happy to wear the lily on my chest again from this point forward. It won't be easy, but I've already witnessed myself that you can achieve a lot in Darmstadt as a team."
VfB trainer Sebastian Hoeneß also issued a statement in which he admitted he wasn't pleased with Pfeiffer's performance in training camp, but did express the hope that "with regular playing time in a familiar environment" the native Baden-Württemberger could regain his form.