Eighteen-year-olds ink career deals in Darmstadt - Two teenagers aged 18 snag pro deals in Darmstadt
SV Darmstadt 98, a second-division German football club, has signed professional contracts with two 18-year-old talents, Tim Arnold and Max Pfister. The promising youngsters are set to join the first team during the upcoming season.
As the club announced, Arnold and Pfister will be integrated into the senior squad following their impressive performances with the U21 team in the Hessenliga. "Both [Arnold and Pfister] have demonstrated good potential and exhibit a strong eagerness to learn," said Paul Fernie, the sporting director at Darmstadt.
Though eligible to play for the U19, Arnold and Pfister primarily honed their skills in the U21. Arnold, a product of the Darmstadt youth academy since the U11 level, has so far played in 26 Hessenliga games for the U21. Pfister, a recruit from 1. FSV Mainz 05's youth team, has featured in 27 games for Darmstadt's second team.
Moreover, Arnold participated in six training sessions with the professional team last season under Florian Kohfeldt's guidance. Meanwhile, Pfister also played significant roles in both the U19 and U21 teams, exhibiting impressive technical ability.
The decision to offer professional contracts to Arnold and Pfister underscores Darmstadt's strategy of integrating young talent into the professional setup earlier on. This approach aligns with the club's commitment to fostering the growth and development of its young players.
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, as it pertains to the European leagues, considering the recent advancements of Tim Arnold and Max Pfister in German football. After impressively showcasing their skills with the U21 team in the Hessenliga, both Arnold and Pfister, who primarily play for the U21 team despite being eligible for the U19, have signed professional contracts with the second-division German football club, SV Darmstadt 98, and are set to join the first team during the upcoming season.
