Bayer Leverkusen signs Germany forward Jonas Hofmann from Bundesliga rival Borussia Mönchengladbach
LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen has signed Germany forward Jonas Hofmann from Bundesliga rival Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Hofmann, who will be 31 on July 14, signed a deal through June 2027, Leverkusen said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Jonas has been on our radar for a long time and we’re happy that he chose Bayer 04,” sporting director Simon Rolfes said. “He’s the type of player we were looking for for our squad thanks to his oversight of the game, his outstanding technical ability and his experience.”
Hofmann started his career at Hoffenheim before joining Borussia Dortmund. He switched to Gladbach in January 2016 and went on to score 40 goals and set up 40 more in 184 Bundesliga games for “the Foals.”
Kicker magazine reported that Leverkusen was paying 10 million euros ($10.9 million) to activate an exit clause in the contract that Hofmann signed with Gladbach last year. The player’s previous contract with Gladbach was due to expire in 2023 but he extended it by two years with the option for another year after that – albeit with the possibility of leaving if another club agreed to pay a fixed sum.
Gladbach managing director Roland Virkus expressed his frustration.
“We had intensive talks with Jonas and fought to keep him at Borussia,” Virkus told the club website. “The talks were very open and in the end we made an offer that met all the conditions set by Jonas. The fact that he still decided to activate the release clause doesn’t leave a good feeling. Nevertheless, his decision should be respected."
Hofmann is the fourth key player to leave Gladbach this offseason following the departures with no transfer fees of Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund) and team captain Lars Stindl (Karlsruher SC).
He becomes Leverkusen's third new signing this summer after the arrivals of Brazilian defender Arthur from América Mineiro and Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo from Benfica.
“The team is exciting and has incredible quality,” Hofmann said of his new club. “I’m really looking forward to this new chapter.”
Hofmann has four goals in 21 appearances for Germany.
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