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Highly-rated Dennis Geiger extends contract
“Our squad is the most important thing for us,” says Alexander Rosen. “In these fast-paced and exciting times with absurd fees in the transfer market, it’s almost weird to secure a talent like Dennis for such a long time. The development of Dennis is yet more evidence of our first-class youth training strategies,” says the TSG director of first-team football and adds that “no other club in the league has given more debuts to players from their own academy than us in the past few years.” The contract extension is therefore “a further sign that our philosophy is enabling players like Dennis to reach their individual goals through hard work in a highly professional, composed and innovative environment.”
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann is delighted that Dennis is set to stay, “where he feels happy, where he’s learned his craft and where he can mature into the player he wants to become.” Geiger played under Nagelsmann and Matthias Kaltenbach in the U19 team which reached the final of the German Championship against Borussia Dortmund (3-5). “We knew a long time ago that Dennis is an exceptionally talented player,” says Nagelsmann. “It was important to be mentally and physically prepared for his induction to professional football,” recalls the coach. Geiger didn’t just make the leap to Bundesliga football, he also got a taste of European football in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs at Anfield Road against Liverpool.
“I would like to thank Hoffenheim and those responsible and I know how many opportunities they’ve given to me here,” Geiger explains his reasons for extending his contract at TSG. “I know for sure that the first few months in the Bundesliga don’t determine your whole career. It means a lot to me that the club have put their faith in me. I’m confident I can prove with my performances and passion that the trust is justified. But I know I’m just at the beginning of my career and that nothing comes for free at this level, you have to prove yourself every game and work hard on yourself.”
Dennis Geiger joined the Hoffenheim U12 team in summer 2009 when he lived only 30 km away in his hometown Sattelbach. He led the U15s to the South German title as captain in 2013.Geiger has played for all Germany youth teams since the U15s and won silver at the Euros in Bulgaria with the U17s in May 2015. He’s established himself as a first-team regular this season with 13 Bundesliga appearances. He followed up his debut against Bremen with a goal on the sixth matchday in the match against Schalke 04 (2-0) and scored his second top-flight goal in the 3-0 away win against Köln. The 19-year-old has also made appearances in a DFB-Pokal game, a Champions League playoff and four Europa League matches.
