“From Hollywood to Hoffenheim” | TSG sign influencer Nader El-Jindaoui | OneFootball

Bundesliga outfit TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have confirmed the capture of former Hertha man and social media star Nader El-Jindaoui. The former Hertha man arrives from MLS Pro outfit Ventura country after just moving to the LA Galaxy farm club Ventura County this past March. Terms of the transfer were not divulged.

El-Jindaoui was born in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district and cycled through the academies of smaller Berlin clubs such as Nord Wedding, Füschse Berlin, and Tennis Borussia. El-Jindaoui also worked in the academies of East German clubs Energie Cottbus and Chemnitzer FC.

El-Jindaoui racked up plenty of experience in the German fourth and fifth tiers playing for the reserves of Fortuna Düsseldorf, SpVgg Greuther Fürth, and Hertha BSC before making one 2. Bundesliga appearance for Hertha during the 2023/24 campaign. He also made one Pokal appearances.

Given his record, Hoffenheim plan to mark El-Jindaoui for their own reserve team. TSG II will feature in Germany’s 3. Liga next season after attaining promotion from the fourth tier last year. In a nod to El-Jindaoui’s off-pitch activities, Hoffenheim welcomed a “Hollywood” star to their club on their social media feeds.

His current professional level notwithstanding, El-Jindaoui maintains more celebrity than many top flight footballers. El-Jindaoui and his wife are considered massive social media influencers with over four million subscribers on Tiktok and two million followers on YouTube and Instagram.

“Nader has proven his footballing skills and qualities in recent years,” Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Schicker noted in a club statement. “Now he wants to take on a new challenge here in Hoffenheim and prove himself in the third division. His enormous reach [on social media] is also an exciting aspect.“

“We see ourselves as a modern club that is actively shaping change in sport and believes in the potential of new roles in football,” TSG managing director Markus Schütz added. “The integration of a talented, ambitious player with a strong digital footprint is a step in that direction. Nader represents a generation that thinks digitally and fights analog at the same time. Commitment and unwavering determination are competitive advantages both on and off the pitch.“

“Many people probably see me as a content creator, but I’m first and foremost a footballer with all heart and soul,” the player himself added. “TSG is giving me the opportunity to prove that you can also take an unconventional path in professional football. I’m not interested in likes, but in impressing people with my sporting performance.”

GGFN | Peter Weis