FIRST TEAM
01/14/2020

Esser joins TSG on a free transfer

TSG Hoffenheim have signed goalkeeper Michael Esser from 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96. The 32-year-old moves to the Kraichgau on a free transfer and has signed a deal which will keep him at the club until the end of the current season.

''We saw the need to respond to a challenging personnel situation in the goalkeeping position and, in Michael, we've found the perfect solution,'' says TSG Director of Football Alexander Rosen. In addition to the injury to number one Oliver Baumann (meniscus operation), TSG have also been forced to deal with the injury-enforced absences of replacements Alexander Stolz (tendonitis in the elbow) and Daniel Klein (broken hand). This glut of injuries meant that Head Coach Alfred Schreuder only had one fit goalkeeper to choose from - Philipp Pentke. 20-year-old U23 goalkeeper Stefan Drljaca joined the first-team squad at training camp in Marbella where, in the words of Rosen, ''he did a good job.'' Nonetheless, it was decided that ''the team were too thin on the ground in the goalkeeping position to be able to go into the second half of the season with any sense of security.''

The 1.98-metres tall Esser, born in Castrop-Rauxel, signed for Hannover 96 in the summer of 2017. He previously had spells at Darmstadt 98, Sturm Graz and VfL Bochum. In total, he's amassed 63 appearances in the Bundesliga, 25 in the 2. Bundesliga, five in the DFB Cup, 36 in the Austrian Bundesliga, while also contesting two Europa League qualifying matches. 

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