The English football club Leeds United officially announced the signing of German midfielder Anton Stach from Hoffenheim for a transfer fee of £17 million. The twenty-six-year-old player signed a four-year contract that ties him to the team until 2029.
Stach joins as the sixth new addition to coach Daniel Farke's squad after the team's successful promotion to the Premier League last season. Among the other new arrivals are Sebastian Bornau, Yak Biyol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lucas Nmeha, and Sean Longstaff.
In an initial statement, the player shared his excitement: "I'm happy to join such a strong team in the Premier League. I define myself as an aggressive footballer who is good at challenges and anticipating opponent passes."
His professional biography includes significant achievements, including a European Under-21 title with the German national team in 2021. Before his transfer to Leeds, Stach was part of the Hoffenheim squad, where he played 71 matches in two seasons and helped the team avoid relegation.
Hoffenheim's Sports Director Andreas Schicker noted the high evaluation of the player: "Anton is an exceptional footballer who consistently demonstrated good results over the past two seasons. He is not only a quality player but also an excellent team player."
Stach's statistics are impressive – over the past two seasons in the Bundesliga, he has registered 120 interceptions and won ball possession 393 times, placing him among the league's best.
Coach Daniel Farke is clearly betting on the physical qualities of the new signing. Four out of six new players are over 6 feet 1 inch tall, which shows the strategy of building a stronger and more athletic squad.
Stach possesses exceptional versatility – initially playing as a central defender, and later reclassified as a midfielder. His height of 6 feet 4 inches makes him extremely useful in set pieces and aerial duels.
The player himself defines his main goal as maintaining the team's place in the Premier League and personal development: "Our most important task is to stay in the league, for me to adapt to the pace, and gain good experience."
Anton Stach's transfer appears to be a strategic move by Leeds United's management in preparation for the challenges of the new football season.