“Valentin is a defensively reliable full-back who has internalised the aggressive Italian style of play and has been able to amass a lot of experience in Serie A,” TSG’s interim Head of Sport, Frank Kramer, said of Hoffenheim’s new signing. “Valentin has been a regular in Lecce in recent years but wants to develop further on a sporting level and has for this reason decided to take the next step of his career in Hoffenheim with us.”
Valentin Gendrey moved to then second-tier Italian club Lecce from French outfit Amiens in July 2021. Gendrey achieved promotion to Serie A with the Italians straightaway in his first year and made 29 appearances in the process (one assist). Gendrey continued to be an integral part of Lecce’s starting line-up over the course of the past two seasons too. The 24-year-old right-back made 74 appearances in the top flight of Italian football (two goals / seven assists) and played in two matches in the Coppa Italia during that time.
The former France U21 international played three times for the “Equipe Tricolore” at that youth level, having previously already made four appearances for the U18 national team of his home country.