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Koki Machida of the Belgian master’s Saint-Gilloise strengthens TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The 27 -year -old central defender receives a « long -term » Kraichgauer contract and initially costs 4.75 million euros – one million euros are also possible via bonuses to be easily reached. Machida was hired in the summer of 2023 after a year and a half of loan for a million euros festivals by Kashima Antlers of his Japanese homeland. It finished 114 games for Union SG and increased its market value from 850,000 to 11 million euros.
Machida was a regular central defense player during last season with the Belgians, who celebrated the first championship in the history of their club. The basis of this created the defensive around Machida, which was the best in the regular league league with only 25 goals.
« With Koki Machida, we found a central defender who has exactly the qualities we were looking for in this position, » said Andreas Schicker, sports director of Hoffenheim. He is experienced internationally as a Japanese international and was an absolute regular staff during the last master’s season of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Koki is an uncompromising defender who does not avoid a duel. It is also very strong because of its size and has a good overview and a precise opening of the player. We are convinced that Koki will give our defensive with his presence and skills the desired stability. « »
TSG Hoffenheim with an excess offer in the Defense Center
In order to strengthen the defense, the TSG has already hired Bernardo for free from VFL Bochum, in which several Bundesliga clubs were interested. After the Brazilian, Tim Lempele (Freiens Free, Cologne) and Leon Avdullahu (8 million, Basel), Machida’s left (Site notre bureau spécialisé) is the fourth new addition of TSG Hoffenheim for the coming season. Spending increases to just under 13 million euros. « I am very happy that it contributed to my move to TSG Hoffenheim. The TSG is an extremely exciting and ambitious club that plays in one of the 5 best leagues in Europe. For me, the step towards Hoffenheim and the Bundesliga is the next of my career and I am really looking forward to starting with my new teammates. The national player.
There is still a lot of work before the people responsible for the Hoffenheimers on the defensive. Christian Ilzer, whose favorite 4-4-2 provides two central defenders with a diamond, are available with the new arrivals Bernardo, the returnees of the loans of Attila Szalai and Tim Drexler as well as Ozan Kabak, Arthur Chaves, Robin Hranac, Kevin Akpoguma and Stanley Nsoki according to the current status.