HSV Bolster Backline by Signing Bundesliga Veteran
Hamburger SV announced the signing of Center Back Jordan Torunarigha from KAA Gent in Belgium; the former Hertha defender figures to be a key cog in the back line in the Bundesliga.
How HSV will reshape and bolster their promotion winning roster has been a topic of much debate since the opening of the transfer window. A key cog in the HSV back line has arrived in the Hansestadt, as the club officially announced the signing of 27-year old center back Jordan Torunarigha on a free transfer from Belgian first division side KAA Gent.
Torunarigha spent the last three and a half seasons in Belgium with Gent, making 145 appearances for the club between the Juliper Pro League, the Belgian cup, and the UEFA Conference League. In the 2024/25 season, he made 30 out of 40 appearances in the league, and also made nine appearances in Europe.
Torunarigha already knew HSV Sporting Director Stefan Kuntz well, as Kuntz was the trainer for the German U21 National Team during his time there (Torunarigha, who was born in Chemnitz and made 30 appearances for the German U21s, eventually ended up making one senior appearance for the Nigerian national team). On the newest member of the Red Shorts, Kuntz stated:
“Jordan is a clear-headed, professional and mature character… He has taken another significant step forward in terms of his development, characterised by heading and tackling prowess, which combine well with his good turn of pace. Jordan matches our profile of requirements thanks to his all-round defensive capabilities and ability to play out from the back” (hsv.de)
Torunarigha is no stranger to the Bundesliga. He came up through the Hertha Berlin academy, and played with the Hertha first team from the 2016/17 season until he was loaned (and then eventually made the permanent transfer) to Gent during the winter window of the 2021/22 season.
On joining the Red Shorts, Torunarigha expressed excitement, stating that “I know the Bundesliga already and I’m really looking forward to returning to play in this special league once again, especially for a club with the tradition of HSV” (hsv.de).
Over the course of six seasons with the Hertha first team, Torunarigha made 73 appearances, and scored five goals while assisting five more. Perhaps what he is best known for to more casual fans of the Bundesliga was in February of 2020 when he was sent off during a match against Schalke, after responding to racist abuse from Schalke fans. That incident, and the relatively uninspired response from the DFL and the DFB (combined with the DFL’s much stronger response to Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp complaining about Bayern Munich fans protesting his ownership style), became a big talking point in the world of German football just prior to Covid shutting the sport down for several months.
Torunarigha’s arrival both fills a key role, and also should build some excitement within the fanbase. Up until this point, the only transfer arrival so far for the Red Shorts had been midfielder Nicolai Remberg from Holstein Kiel, while there have been more rumors of high profile departures from Hamburg (chief among them Ludovit Reis and Davie Selke). Meanwhile, fellow promoted side 1.FC Köln have made several exciting transfers, mostly drawing on top performers from other clubs from the 2.Bundesliga last season (most notably 1.FC Kaiserslautern striker Ragnar Ache).
Torunarigha is also addressing what was becoming one of the biggest question marks within the HSV squad. A strong back line is always important, particularly for newly promoted sides. Though HSV had a solid 2.Bundesliga backline, it was always going to need reinforcements to survive in the Bundesliga. Additionally, there were question marks over depth and some potential impending departures.
Dennis Hadžikadunić, who has been a mainstay at center back over the past few years, will have his loan to HSV from Russian first division side Rostov (on loan since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine). Hadžikadunić has expressed desire to stay in Hamburg, but there have been no concrete movements on that front. Club captain Sebastian Schonlau lost his starting spot at the start of the Rückrunde under Merlin Polzin to Daniel Elfadli. Whether or not Schonlau will stay, and what role he will play if he does are both open questions, but it’s fair to expect that after losing his starting spot in the 2.Bundesliga, he likely won’t be getting it back in the Bundesliga. Elfadli figures to play an important role in defense, but is a converted defensive midfielder. Polzin has said he plans to keep Elfadli in the back line, but that is not necessarily guaranteed. The club also expects bigger contributions from youngster Aboubaka Soumahoro, who was bought during the winter transfer window for two million euros from Paris FC. Academy product Joel Agyekum could also see some increase in opportunity.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the back line, the arrival of Torunarigha is a potentially massive boost as HSV look to strengthen their squad for their first season back in the Bundesliga since 2017/18, and in the former Berlin center back they may have found their back line mainstay.