Controversial Hoffenheim purchase Arthur Chaves receives contract extension | OneFootball

One of Hoffenheim’s controversial signings from the autumn 2024 transfer window has received a contract extension. Brazilian centre-back Arthur Chaves inked a new deal in Kraichgau on Wednesday. The Bundesliga outfit did not disclose the length of the 24-year-old’s new working papers.

Hoffenheim purchased Chaves from Portuguese second division club Académico de Viseu last August, paying €6m for a player valued at just €1.5m with no top flight experience. The deal left many German press sources to speculate that shady subsidization was at work.

The Portuguese side has a developmental agreement with Hoffenheim brokered by club patron Dietmar Hopp and his controversial business former Roger Wittmann. There were plenty of instances last season in which Chaves looked wholly unready for the transition to the Bundesliga.

Despite many stumbles, Chaves did manage to accrue plenty of playing time. The Brazilian U23 international even managed to score two goals in 34 appearances across all competitions for the TSG first team. Chaves – who also featured for the reserves – made six Europa League appearances.

Amid all of this, Chaves has raised his estimated market value up to €5m. In club statements accompanying the signing, both player and club sporting director Andreas Schicker effectively tried to quash all remaining talk of Chaves’ controversial purchase.

“Arthur has developed excellently over the past year, establishing himself in the Bundesliga in just a short time and also impressing with consistently good performances in the Europa League,” Schicker said. “We are very pleased that Arthur has clearly committed himself to our path with this early contract extension and sees his future here at Hoffenheim.”

“I am very happy to have extended my contract with TSG Hoffenheim for the long term,” the player himself added. “Last summer, TSG gave me the chance to prove myself in one of the five best leagues in Europe. I am convinced that we are on the right track here in Hoffenheim and am thus very positive about our future together.”

GGFN | Peter Weis