21.01.2022 17:52 h

Hoffenheim snap up US teen talent Che from FC Dallas

Justin Che is the latest US teen heading to the Bundesliga after Hoffenheim announced Friday they had signed the 18-year-old defender from MLS side FC Dallas.

A fortnight after Augsburg permanently signed 18-year-old USA international Ricardo Pepi, also from FC Dallas, Hoffenheim have snapped up Che on loan until June 2023 with an option to buy.

The Texas-born defender already has experience of German football having played eight games for Bayern Munich's reserves at the end of last season while on loan from Dallas.

At Hoffenheim, the junior American international will link up with US defender Chris Richards, 21, who is on loan from Bayern.

"Hoffenheim is well known in the USA for its successful work with young players, not least by the development of Chris Richards in recent months," explained Che, who has a German passport.

He can play at centre-back or on the right side of defence.

Hoffenheim initially plan to develop him in their Under-19 team.

Che has twice been called up to the senior American team but has yet to make his debut.

He already speaks German and his grandparents live in Mannheim, which is near Sinsheim, where Hoffenheim are based.