Philipp Hofmann joins VfL

The first new signing of the 2022/23 season is complete, Philipp Hofmann is moving to VfL Bochum 1848. The 29-year-old striker is still under contract with Karlsruher SC until June 30, but he will join VfL as a free agent after this expires. Hofmann has scored 51 goals in 102 competitive games for KSC. At VfL, Hofmann has signed a contract until June 30, 2024.

In total, the forward has played 207 games in the 2. Bundesliga so far, in which he was directly involved in 95 goals (71 goals, 24 assists). In addition, he has played 31 games in the English Championship for Brentford FC. Born in the Sauerland region, he came through the ranks at FC Schalke 04, where he won the German Under-19 Championship in 2011/12, providing the winning goal in the final against FC Bayern Munich. After a year in the Regionalliga, Philipp Hofmann was loaned out by Schalke, first to SC Paderborn, then a year later to FC Ingolstadt. Finally, he was transferred to 1.FC Kaiserslautern in 2014, and one season later his foreign engagement in England started. Until 2019, he was still under contract with SpVgg Greuther Fürth and Eintracht Braunschweig, the last three years Hofmann was then highly successful in Karlsruhe.

“Philipp Hofmann has enormous physical presence, a lot of experience and is capable of scoring goals. He has proven that he is very adaptable at his various clubs and has scored or assisted to goals everywhere. He is a team player who, from our point of view, has the necessary skills and mental robustness to assert himself in what is a new environment for him – and by that I don’t just mean VfL, but also the Bundesliga,” said Sebastian Schindzielorz, Director od Sport at VfL Bochum 1848.

“I’m looking forward to the new challenges that come with the club change to VfL and the Bundesliga, which is a new division for me,” says Philipp Hofmann. “I’m also pleased to be returning to the Ruhr region, having spent a large part of my youth there. VfL Bochum is a special club, the team has done exceptional things this season. Now it’s a matter of continuing this journey and also managing to stay in the league next year. I have been to the Vonovia Ruhrstadion many times, always as a guest. Hearing “Bochum” by Grönemeyer in the players’ tunnel always gives me goosebumps – I’m looking forward to that, too!”

Player data PHILIPP HOFMANN

DOB: 30/03/1993 (Arnsberg)
Height: 195cm
Weight: 89kg
Nationality: German
2. BL Games/Goals: 207/71
Championship/ENG Games/Goals: 31/4
Internationals/Goals: 17/9 (U21), 6/3 (U20), 10/6 (U19), 3/0 (U18)
Successes: U19 German Champion, U19 Champion BL West (2012)
Participation: U21-EURO (2015)
Previous clubs: Karlsruher SC (2019 – 2022), Eintracht Braunschweig (01/2018 – 06/2019), SpVgg Greuther Fürth (2017 – 01/2018), FC Brentford/ENG (2015 – 2017), 1.FC Kaiserslautern (2014/15), FC Ingolstadt 04 (2013/14), SC Paderborn 07 (2012/13), FC Schalke 04 (2009 – 2014), SC Neheim (2007 – 2009), TSV Rot-Weiß Wenolthausen (2001 – 2007)