Pentke signs, Kobel is loaned out, Stolz stays

"It was a complex package to put together," explained director of football Alexander Rosen. "The final details were only clarified at the weekend, meaning we can now communicate our plans." Hoffenheim have already had a deal in place with Philipp Pentke for several weeks. The 34-year-old, who has kept goal for SSV Jahn Regenburg 58 times in the second division, will join the Kraichgau club on a free transfer and has penned a deal until 30 June 2021.

"Philipp is an experienced player who has been one of the outstanding goalkeepers in the second tier," said TSG goalkeeping coach Michael Rechner of the new arrival, who has previously enjoyed spells at Dynamo Dresden, 1860 Munich, FC Augsburg, Energie Cottbus, Chemnitzer FC and, most recently, Jahn Regensburg. In addition to the aforementioned second-tier appearances, he has played 174 matches in the third division. Rechner subsequently expressed his delight at Stolz extending his deal. Alexander Stolz has been a hugely reliable and loyal figure at Hoffenheim for six years now. The 35-year-old makes himself available whenever needed and – in both a sporting and personal sense – plays a key role in ensuring the goalkeepers are all singing from the same hymn sheet. His new deal runs until 30 June 2020.

Stolz to stay at TSG after retirement

Furthermore, Alexander Rosen and his fellow TSG officials highly value his "loyalty, commitment, attitude and passion". Thanks to his characteristics and personality traits, TSG Hoffenheim continues to have a clear plan "to integrate Alex into the club in a different role once his playing days are over".

Gregor Kobel, whose deal was set to expire in the summer of 2020, has had his contract prematurely extended until 30 June 2021. That extension created the conditions to send the Swiss shot-stopper to relegated VfB Stuttgart on loan. "There was no question of a sale for us," said Alexander Rosen of Kobel, who has already been included in the senior Switzerland squad. "Our plan to allow Gregor to get some minutes under his belt by loaning him out to FC Augsburg over the winter, thus ensuring his continued development, has paid dividends and that process will now continue in Stuttgart." The custodian lined up between the sticks for Augsburg 16 times in the German top flight and twice in the DFB Cup. For TSG, he has made one Bundesliga appearance, plus four in the DFB Cup and one in the Europa League.

Three "exciting talents" at academy level

In Baumann, Pentke and Stolz, Hoffenheim now has a solid and experienced goalkeeping team for the upcoming Bundesliga season. And in Stefan Drljaca (20), Luca Philipp (18) and Daniel Klein (18), who are all training with the U23s, there are three exciting, highly-talented young goalkeepers in the pipeline.