Burkardt extends with Mainz: "I've been waiting for this moment."
FSV Mainz 05 commemorated New Year's day with a strong signal from former Germany U21 captain Jonathan Burkardt.
The 23-year-old chose to extend his expiring contract at a time that would enable him to express maximum gratitude and commitment to the club.
The 23-year-old chose to extend his expiring contract at a time that would enable him to express maximum gratitude and commitment to the club.
| Jonathan Burkardt | FSV Mainz 05 |
Burkardt sadly found his promising early career trajectory de-railed by a major knee injury suffered in the final match-day prior to the 2022 World Cup break. After having to undergo a second surgical procedure, Burkardt was only just able to return to the pitch for the Pfälzer club following a spell on the sidelines that lasted over a year. The Darmstadt native has made five league appearances (two starts) since returning to action off the bench against Hoffenheim on match-day 12.
"I am very grateful to those responsible at Mainz 05 and also to the fans for the trust, support and also the patience that I experienced during the difficult time of my injury break," Burkardt noted at his signing ceremony, "Now that I'm fit again and can look ahead with positivity. It's the right time to extend my contract. I wanted to wait for this moment. I'll have been a 05 player for ten years next summer, I'm very happy at my club and I'm keen to do my bit to turn this season into a positive one."
"It's super important that we can keep such a player in Mainz," a delighted looking sporting director Martin Schmidt said at the event, "It's an incredibly important sign from Jonny to say I''m staying, that's where I grew up, that's where I want to be and continue playing football.' We were in dialogue with him for a very long time during the entire injury break. He said we'd get it sorted quickly when he's healthy again. It's a huge moment for the club."
"Despite his young age, Jonny Burkardt is already a formative player and character for Mainz 05," sporting CEO Christian Heidel added, "With his goal-scoring ability, his footballing instinct, his pace, and his run-intensive press, he is an extremely versatile player who epitomizes Mainz football like no other. His development symbolizes our successful training of young players. And he is a positive, down-to-earth leader and team player who is not easily rattled. He had a difficult time due to his injury, which he fought his way out of admirably."
