Official | Hoffenheim flop Stanley Nsoki moves to 1. FC Union Berlin on loan with purchase option | OneFootball

French defender Stanley Nsoki’s loan out from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to 1. FC Union Berlin has been officially confirmed. The 26-year-old – a notorious transfer flop – switches Bundesliga clubs ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Kicker reports that a €3m purchase option is part of the deal. Hoffenheim once paid €12m to acquire Nsoki from Club Brugge.

Nsoki’s talent never really lay in question and the German capital city club remains hopeful that the former French U21 international can once again find his feet in Köpenick. A muscular injury means that Nsoki will not be integrated into Union training immediately. Union themselves have parted company with two centre-backs (Kevin Vogt and Paul Jaeckel) this summer.

FCU sporting director Horst Heldt made clear that die Eisernen would take matters slowly with their new signing in his club statement. Heldt also took the opportunity to praise Nsoki’s potential. Nsoki’s experience as a left-back could potentially also help head coach Steffen Baumgart compensate for the loss of Jerome Roussillon.

“Stanley not only brings international experience from top leagues,” Heldt noted – referring to Nsoki’s Champions and Europa League experience with Brugge, OGC Nice, and his Bundesliga parent club. “But also exactly the qualities we value at Union. He is a strong tackler, focused, and versatile.“

“Stan has repeatedly demonstrated his ability here in Hoffenheim over the past three years,” TSG sporting director Andreas Schicker noted in his own statement. “It’s now time for Stan to take on a new challenge. In Berlin, Stan now has the opportunity to prove himself at another club and develop further as a player.”

”Union fights with heart and conviction, which suits me,” Nsoki himself said. “I feel that I can contribute to the team’s success here with my style-of-play. For me, this is the correct step to continue my development in a special environment and pour everything I have into contributing to the team’s success.“

GGFN | Peter Weis