Louis Lemke becomes HSV’s youngest ever player

It was a historic moment when the fourth official held up the number 37 in injury time. Louis Lemke became Hamburger SV’s youngest-ever first-team player when he entered the field against SC Freiburg. The Rothosen academy product appeared at the age of just 16 years and 214 days. The left-back surpassed the record previously held by Omar Megeed, who, at the age of 16 years and 359 days, made his senior debut in HSV’s 2-0 victory at Arminia Bielefeld during the 2022/23 season.

Josha Vagnoman was previously the Rothosen’s youngest-ever Bundesliga player, having appeared in the 6-0 defeat at Bayern München in 2018. Only three players made their debut in the German top division at an earlier age: Youssoufa Moukoko, Linus Güther and Paul Wanner.

Louis Pepe Lemke has been receiving his footballing education in the HSV academy since the 2023/24 season. Prior to that, he played for Niendorfer TSV. The youngster was promoted to the Rothosen’s U21s last winter and has so far contributed two goals and one assist in 13 fourth-tier appearances. Furthermore, Lemke is a Germany youth international, currently competing at U17 level. Already at the end of January was he included on the bench for the senior side during the 2-2 draw against FC Bayern München. The home-grown player has now made his historic debut at the Volksparkstadion, becoming the 467th player in history to feature in the Bundesliga for HSV. That’s not all, though. As part of the late double substitution, Shafiq Nandja followed as the club’s 468th Bundesliga player. What a historic day for HSV!