Hoffenheim bid farewell to quartet of players | OneFootball

As part of their effort to downsize after a disastrous 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will be parting company with four players. TSG sporting director Andreas Schicker emphasized the need to “downsize” the generally large 33-man-roster immediately after the conclusion of the season this weekend. The process has begun with the release of keeper Jakob Busk, fullback Christopher Lenz, midfielder Diadie Samassekou, and wingback David Jurasek.

Busk, Lenz, and Samassekou will be departing on expiring contracts while Jurasek will be returning to his parent club Benfica Lisbon after two loan stints in Kraichgau. Hoffenheim will decline to exercise Jurasek’s purchase option after the Czech international proved a big flop in 14 Bundesliga and five Europa League appearances. Former Union Berlin keeper Busk will also return to his Danish parent club after a brief loan stint.

Samassekou’s long saga with Hoffenheim took on a more political dimension this year when it was revealed that the Malian international only received playing time under head coach Christian Ilzer due to the intrusive influence of controversial agent Roger Wittmann. The club will surely be glad to rid themselves of this distraction.

German footballing veteran Lenz (30), along with Busk, logged no minutes this season. The former Union Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt, and RB Leipzig professional may be headed for retirement after 98 Bundesliga appearances due to persistent struggles with a calf injury.

The fate of two other players sitting on expiring contracts, wingback Pavel Kaderabek and keeper Luca Philipp remains up-in-the-air. Kaderabek (33) is a valued club veteran who came on strong late in the season. Philipp did an admirable job filling in for injured squad captain Oliver Baumann this season.

Some inspired performances from Stade Rennes loanee Leo Østigård once made it seem as if Hoffenheim would purchase the Norwegian international permanently, but the 25-year-old never really recovered his form in his final league fixtures after incurring a two-match-ban on matchday 28.

Chances that Østigård will remain in Sinsheim now appear slim.

GGFN | Peter Weis