Jóhannesson exit “painful”
© Imago
At Fortuna Düsseldorf there was already plenty of movement in terms of summer transfers. With Kenneth Schmidt (23/Freiburg), Julian Hettwer (21/BVB II) and Christopher Lenz (30/Hoffenheim) there are three newcomers, while with ísak Jóhannesson (22) there was a painful departure to local rival 1. FC Köln. Some professionals had previously been adopted, including captain Andre Hoffmann (32) and the longest -serving squad member Marcel Sobottka (31).
“Since we have given up nine players so far, we will probably also bring new players to ourselves in this number. So there is still a little bit to do. But we have a few smart ideas,” reveals sports director Christian Weber in one “Kicker“-InterView. Possibly it will be borrowed in the course of this-if the prerequisites are correct.” This has worked well in recent years. We could not have got some players in another way. But rental shops only make sense if we can optimally achieve a realistic purchase option and then take a later participation if the player should switch to a larger club, “says Weber.
At Jóhannesson, Fortuna had to see how the 1st FC Köln pulled out of 5.5 million euros shortly before the deadline. Düsseldorf’s manager explained: “Losing a player like ísak is very painful for us as a club. But to bind to the club at all, you can hardly avoid an exit clause. At the same time, his way also shows what good stage we as Fortuna to develop and take the next steps. Achieve transfer proceeds. ” The Icelander Jóhannesson had a loan in the summer of 2024 for 2 million euros from FC Copenhagen to Düsseldorf and increased its market value to 7 million euros.
Fortuna Düsseldorf and the “real balancing act” in the 2nd league
According to Weber, strong transfers of the past like Christos Tzolis (23/ for 6.5 million euros to the Club Bruges) and Yannik Engelhardt (24/ for 8 million euros) have arisen expectations: “The bar is now high for us because it is not in every transfer window player with such special quality as well as a ísak Jóhannesson.” Especially since there is also a completely different challenge for a club like Fortuna, who was again not far from the Bundesliga promotion. “To be economically solid and at the same time strive for maximum sporting success is a real balancing act in this 2nd league.”
In order to strengthen themselves, those responsible look out early enough. “Julian Hettwer, for example, who is coming to us, we have been following in the youth area. We often strive for several years to finally bring players to ourselves. While you are more on the scouting in the season, it is currently about implementation. It will be intensive. To prepare transfers, you have to communicate and coordinate a lot to prepare transfers,” said the 41-year-old weaver.