HSV thanks six loan players

Hamburger SV would like to thank six players on loan at the club this season: Fabio Vieira, Luka Vuskovic, Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Albert Grönbaek, Philip Otele and Damion Downs are all currently set to return to their parent clubs on 1 July. “We would like to expressly thank all six players for their performances and commitment while wearing the HSV shirt,” said sporting director Claus Costa. “Fabio and Luka certainly stood out as key players over the course of the season, but all of our loan players played their part in helping us achieve our objective for our first season back in the Bundesliga ahead of the final day. Both on and off the pitch, they integrated superbly into the team and the club and really took on what it means to be part of HSV. We will hold discussions with the various parties over the coming days regarding a possible future at HSV.”

Between them, the six players made 116 competitive appearances for the Rothosen. Fabio Vieira featured more often than any of his fellow loanees. The 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder joined HSV from Arsenal on deadline day last summer and went on to make 31 appearances in all competitions. With seven goals and six assists, he finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer and leading creator combined. As things stand, the technically gifted playmaker will return to London. The same applies to 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic, who also spent the entire season in Hamburg on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and made 30 appearances for the Rothosen. The younger brother of Mario Vuskovic contributed six goals and one assist from the heart of defence. Gocholeishvili’s year at HSV also comes to an end, with the right-back returning to Shakhtar Donetsk after registering one assist in 27 appearances.

Grönbaek, Otele and Downs all joined the club during the winter transfer window. Danish midfielder Grönbaek, 24, arrived on loan from Stade Rennais F.C. but was limited to seven appearances due to injury, recording one goal and two assists. His direct involvement in both goals during the 2-1 away win in Frankfurt on matchday 32 meant he played a decisive role in securing HSV’s Bundesliga survival ahead of the end of the season. Otele, on loan from FC Basel 1893, made nine appearances, contributing one goal and one assist. Downs will return to Southampton after featuring 12 times for the Rothosen.

Hamburger SV would like to thank all six players for their commitment and wishes them every success in the next stage of their careers, which may even see them continue to pull on the HSV jersey. After all, as they say in Hamburg: ‘Tschüss’ - which really means ‘until we meet again.’