Hoffenheim official: Signing Hajidari from Ruichao, both sides sign a long-term contract

Hupu, August 25, Bundesliga team Hoffenheim officially announced that Swiss international Albian Hajdari joined the team. The 22-year-old central defender is from Swiss Premier League club Lugano and signed a long-term contract at Hoffenheim.

Hoffenheim Sports General Manager Andreas Schker said: "After Hiroki Machida was seriously injured, we have already planned to find a suitable central defender in the transfer market. Hajidari is very consistent with our signing standards: he is young, has a left-footed player, has a solid training background, and has accumulated rich experience in the Swiss League and European arena. We have been paying attention to his growth for a long time and I am very happy that he can join the team at this critical moment."

Hajidari himself said: "I am very much looking forward to meeting new challenges in the top European leagues like the Bundesliga. The exchange with Hoffenheim's senior management made me firmly believe that the project here is very suitable for me. Now my goal is to do my best on the court and use my performance to help the team achieve their goals."

Hajidari came from Basel youth training in Switzerland. He transferred to the youth team of the Italian giant Juventus in September 2020, and was then loaned back to Basel many times. In the summer of 2022, he joined Lugano and quickly became the main force here. In the past three seasons, he has played in 110 games for Lugano, contributing 5 goals and 1 assist, covering the Swiss Premier League, Swiss Cup, Champions League qualifiers, Europa League qualifiers and Europa League.

In Switzerland's 3-1 victory over Luxembourg in March this year, Hajidari made his first debut in the national team. He had been selected for the Swiss youth team at all levels.