Team

Joel Agyekum signs professional contract with HSV

The Hamburg-born man has made the step up from the academy to featuring for the senior team. Agyekum has played for Hamburger SV’s youth squads since 2017, and made his first-team debut earlier this season. He has now committed his future to the Rothosen.

The defender joined Hamburger SV from Eimsbütteler TV in summer 2017, made his senior debut in February 2025, and has now signed his first professional contract for the Rothosen. Joel Agyekum has been entwined with HSV for many years, and will remain so in the future. The parties agreed the contract on Wednesday (30th April). “Joel is further proof that we’re on the right path and that there is an ever-closer connection between the academy and the first team,” said board member for sport Stefan Kuntz. Kuntz was also keen to emphasise “that Joel hasn’t just been gifted this opportunity by us. Instead, he’s worked for it and earned it himself through his ambition, application and talent.” These attributes are backed up by the fact that he has impressed for the U17s, U19s and U21s over the course of several seasons, and has featured in 26 of 31 possible matches for the U21 side so far this campaign.

From the academy to the senior team: Joel Agyekum has been at HSV since 2017.

Senior debut in Münster

One of those who attended a number of these matches was Claus Costa. This has given the head of professional football a detailed knowledge of the defender’s profile. “Joel is a modern centre-half with an exciting potential to improve. His physical nature, pace and mindset mean he has the best-possible attributes to take the next step in his development,” said Costa. The centre-back made his first-team debut in the 2-1 away win at Preußen Münster, becoming the 520th player to pull on the HSV shirt in the league since the foundation of the Bundesliga.

The 20-year-old has played for the HSV academy sides since 2017, including as captain, and has already featured for Germany at youth level. Signing his first professional contract is a dream come true for him. “As someone who is Hamburg-born and bred, it fills me with pride and makes me very happy to have signed my first professional contract with my club. I feel very at home at HSV and I can sense how much the club value me. In my discussions with them, I was shown the path we can follow together, and which I’ve only just started on. That motivates me to keep training intensively so I can make the best-possible impact on the pitch,” said the 1.90-metre-tall man as he explained why he decided to remain with the Rothosen. The foundations have now been set for Agyekum to continue making strides with HSV over the coming years.