HOFFENHEIM NEWS

Oliver Baumann - Six saves in loss Baumann made six saves and conceded twice in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Freiburg.

Impact Baumann did well to limit the opposition to just two goals as his side slipped to an opening day defeat. He has conceded 57 goals in each of the last two seasons, which were the joint worst of his career. He will be hoping for more than the five clean sheets he managed in the last campaign and he will come up against the newly-promoted Heidenheim on Saturday.

AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ozan Kabak - Starting against Freiburg Kabak (foot) is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Freiburg.

Impact Kabak was considered doubtful by manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, but the veteran defender ended up making the starting lineup for the Bundesliga opener. He was a regular for Hoffenheim in 2022-23, racking up 28 starts and 30 total appearances at center-back.

AUGUST 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dennis Geiger - Won't play against Freiburg Geiger (groin) is still in advance training and will not be an option for Saturday's match versus Freiburg, confirmed manager Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Impact Geiger made all 27 appearances last season as starts, totaling a goal and three assists in that span. While he deals with a groin injury, Florian Grillitsch and Grischa Promel are the expected pair to start in the midfield for the time being.

AUGUST 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kasim Nuhu - Back in training Adams (undisclosed) is back in training and is expected to be on the squad sheet for Saturday's match against Freiburg.

Impact Adams could make an appearance Saturday after picking up an injury near the end of his loan with FC Basel. He last made an appearance with Hoffenheim in 2021 before being sent to Switzerland last season.

AUGUST 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ozan Kabak - Set as questionable Kabak (foot) is questionable for Saturday's match versus Freiburg. "Ozan Kabak is questionable after suffering a slap on the foot against Luebeck" confirmed manager Pellegrino Mata...

Impact Kabak spent most of last season as a regular starter, making 28 starts in 30 appearances at center back. With the addition of Attila Szalai, the defender will have to complete even harder if he wants to maintain his spot in the starting XI this season.

AUGUST 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dennis Geiger - Remains out for opener Geiger (groin) is out for Saturday's DFB Pokal clash, according to manager Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Impact Geiger finished the 2022-23 Bundesliga on the sideline with a back injury and is now opening 2023-24 on the sideline once more. The midfielder is still struggling with a new groin injury and faces an indefinite timeline for his return from what has been described as a serious muscle issue. Geiger is a talented option when on the pitch but has struggled mightily with a variety of muscle injuries in recent seasons.

AUGUST 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kasim Nuhu - Returns injured Adams (undisclosed) returned from his loan to FC Basel injured and is out for Saturday's DFB Pokal clash, according to manager Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Impact Adams picked up the injury while on loan with Basel and has not appeared in pre-season. He isn't ready for the opening match of the Pokal and is a doubt to return before the Aug. 19 Bundesliga opener against Freiburg.

AUGUST 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fisnik Asllani - Out in Pokal Asllani (ankle) is out for Saturday's DFB Pokal clash, according to manager Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Impact Asllani is looking set to open the season on the sideline as he continues to struggle with a knee injury. The forward has been held to just 10 appearances across the past two seasons due to injury and has struggled to get back on the pitch in any meaningful way.

AUGUST 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wout Weghorst - Joins Hoffenheim on loan Weghorst has been loaned to Hoffenheim for the rest of the season from Burnley.

Impact Weghorst's career at Burnley seems to be over after he forced his way out last year following relegation. He returns to Bundesliga where he built a name for himself at Wolfsburg. He'll hope to get back to his 20-goal, eight-assist season from 2020/21, but that seems ages ago given his recent performances in the Premier League. At this point, there's no guarantee he'll get starts right away with Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bulter main competititon.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fisnik Asllani - Doubtful for opener Asllani (ankle) is a doubt for the Bundesliga opener after suffering an ankle injury, Hoffenheim announced.

Impact Asllani played a limited role in 2022-23 but seemed set for a more intensive role moving forward. The forward now faces a recovery from an ankle ligament injury that cost him the entirety of pre-season.

JULY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Attila Szalai - Joins Hoffenheim Szalai completed a move to Hoffenheim from Fenerbache, Hoffenheim announced Monday.

Impact Szalai is on the way to Germany after Hoffenheim added another layer of depth to their back line. The defender is in his prime at 25 and is expected to take over as the top choice in central defense with Hoffenheim. Potentially replacing John Brooks or Ozan Kabak in the starting XI alongside Kevin Vogt.

JULY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Vogt - Active against Strasbourg Vogt (knee) came off the bench during the second half of Monday's 2-1 loss to Strasbourg.

Impact Vogt came off the bench for the second half of Monday's friendly. The defender is the top option on the depth chart in central defense heading into 2023-24 and will likely take a major role in the starting XI once more.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pavel Kaderabek - Active in pre-season Kaderabek (thigh) started during Monday's 2-1 friendly loss with Strasbourg.

Impact Kaderabek ended the Bundesliga on the sideline with a thigh injury. The defender returned on the wing during Monday's friendly and is back on the pitch. With Angelino no longer competing for starting minutes Kaderabek could earn a consistent starting role in 2023-24.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Akpoguma - Active in loss Akpoguma (thigh) got the start during Monday's loss to Strasbourg in a friendly.

Impact Akpoguma returned to the starting XI for the first friendly of the pre-season against Strasbourg. The defender played 45 minutes before coming off for the also returning Kevin Vogt. Akpoguma signed a three-year extension earlier in the off-season and figures to play a large role in 2023-24.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Umut Tohumcu - Suffers ankle injury Tohumcu is set to miss time after suffering a ligament injury to his left ankle at during preseason training.

Impact Tohumcu made just eight appearances with the senior team last season. With this injury, the midfielder will find it hard to get appearances with the first team as he enters his third season in the Bundesliga.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marius Bulter - Remains in Bundesliga Bulter will stay in the Bundesliga after agreeing to a transfer to Hoffenheim from Schalke for an undisclosed amount, the team announced.

Impact Bulter had been the team's top scorer last season with 11 along with an assist in 30 starts. This included scoring two braces during the season. His talent should remain in the Bundesliga, which is why the forward agreed to a move to Hoffenheim after Schalke was relegated back to the Bundesliga 2. He will be a great fit for the attack alongside Andrej Kramaric, who scored 12 goals with the club last season.

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Grillitsch - Returns to Hoffenheim Grillitsch has returned to Hoffenheim on a three-year contract through the 2025-26 season, the club announced Monday.

Impact Grillitsch departed to join Ajax but failed to break into the first team with the Amsterdam side. He returns to Hoffenheim where he has played a major role across the entirety of the starting XI previously.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Akpoguma - Extends contract with Hoffenheim Akpoguma has signed a three-year contract extension with TSG Hoffenheim, the club announced Wednesday.

Impact Akpoguma kept four clean sheets in 28 Bundesliga appearances (21 starts) last season, setting new personal-best top flight marks in appearances, starts and minutes played. The 28-year-old center-back has now signed on to remain at the club through the 2025/26 campaign.

JUNE 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Croatia beat Netherlands to reach Nations League final Croatia have progressed to the UEFA Nations League final following a 4-2 victory over Netherlands. Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic thought...

JUNE 14, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Julian Justvan - Joins Hoffenheim Justvan will make a move to the Bundesliga after agreeing to terms for a four-year contract with Hoffenheim from SC Paderborn 07.

Impact Justvan spent three seasons with the club playing in the second division of German football, recording eight goals and 16 assists in 96 appearances with SC Paderborn 07. He will play in the Bundesliga for the first time in his career as he looks to compete for a starting spot for the 2023/24 campaign.

JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Robert Skov - Again struggles with injury Skov was limited to just 23 appearances (16 starts) in the 2022/23 Bundesliga due to muscular injury.

Impact Skov turned in an incredible 2019/20 Bundesliga and has struggled mightily with injuries in the three seasons since. The midfielder opened the season in the starting XI and seemed set for a fine return with three goals and two assists. Various muscle injuries cost Skov playing time and seemed to slow down his form. In the end Skov finished the season as a bench option during the final seven matches, where he made just four appearances. Heading into 2023/24 it will be a test of if Skov can finally get fully fit and recover his brilliant offensive form.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stanley Nsoki - Loses starting role Nsoki made 19 appearances (14 starts) but only two starts during the final three months of the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Nsoki seemed set for a major role early in the season and impressed during Winter training camp. That role completely fell apart as a string of poor performances and minor injuries left him out of favor. Nsoki still figures to see playing time as a depth role, but he would need to impress to unseat one of Kevin Vogt, John Brooks, or Kevin Akpoguma in 2023/24.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jacob Bruun Larsen - Season to forget Larsen made 13 appearances (three starts), scoring once in the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Larsen had a season to forget as his role dwindled to nothing and he was left out of the matchday squad more often than not. The winger has shown the occasional flash of brilliance but struggled with inconsistency more often than not. A long-term knee injury limited his already minor role and proved to be a major set-back for Larsen, who's only start came in August.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

John Brooks - Earns starting job Brooks started the final 11 Bundesliga matches and made 15 starts total after joining Hoffenheim in January.

Impact Brooks was a mid-season addition who quickly cemented himself as a nailed-on starter. The defender was handed a two-year contract and is now expected to anchor the defense heading into 2023/24. Brooks formed an especially impressive partnership with Kevin Vogt in a back-three alongside Kevin Akpoguma. Brooks finished the season with an astounding 104 clearances, though only a single clean sheet.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Munas Dabbur - Efficient off bench Dabbur turned in a career-year with six goals and two assists during 21 appearances (eight starts) in the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Dabbur produced perhaps his best season with Hoffenheim despite following to a minor rotational role. Across just 930 minutes Dabbur proved to be the most efficient striker in Hoffenheim with eight goal contributions. Despite his solid returns Dabbur's role never solidified in the starting XI. Dabbur finished with 22 shots (14 on goal) and 16 chances created while sending in six crosses. Dabbur will hope to compete for a starting striking spot alongside Ihlas Bebou in pre-season.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE