Kerem Demirbay to join Bayer Leverkusen

"Kerem wonderfully epitomises our successful philosophy of finding talented players, promoting them and helping them to achieve their maximum performance," said TSG director of football Alexander Rosen. "However, we're of course completely aware that our players are coveted by other clubs, whose financial resources are in some cases on a completely different level to our own," added Rosen, although he knows "that Kerem did not take this step lightly". He insisted that the "discovery, development and promotion of highly-promising players with huge potential for development" shall remain "part of our strategy, which equally includes generating adequate transfer revenues in order to ensure we're on a reliably stable financial footing that will help us remain successful in the future". Kerem Demirbay will be the second-most expensive player sale in the club's history after Roberto Firmino, who left for Liverpool.

"I've experienced a wonderful time here, developed a lot on a sporting and personal level, and made my international debut too. TSG has been the right place for me these past few years and it will continue to be so for many other players. I will always retain fond memories of my time in Hoffenheim and remain hugely thankful towards everyone at the club and the fans," said Kerem Demirbay, who assured "he would give everything for TSG in the remaining games". But following three extraordinary years, he feels "the time has come to return to the west and to play for another very strong team with a lot of potential".

Kerem Demirbay arrived in the Kraichgau from Hamburg, who had previously sent him out on loan to Düsseldorf in the second tier, in July 2016. He has since played 71 Bundesliga matches (12 goals), 11 European games (5x Champions League, 2x Champions League play-off, 4x Europa League) and four DFB Cup ties for TSG. During his time at Hoffenheim, he made his senior international debut and was part of Joachim Löw's squad that won the 2017 Confederations Cup.