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Hamburg join race to sign Southampton's Armel Bella-Kotchap

Hamburg join race to sign Southampton's Armel Bella-Kotchap

Yahoo05-07-2025
Hamburger Abendblatt reports that Bundesliga returnees Hamburg have joined the race to sign Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap (23). The Germany international has a preference to return to the Bundesliga, with the intention to perform well to catch Julian Nagelsmann's eye ahead of the World Cup next summer.
Bella-Kotchap joined then Premier League side Southampton for €12m from Bochum in 2022, starting 24 out of his 26 matchday appearances in the top flight. After relegation to the Championship, the German spent the 2023/24 season on loan at PSV before returning to the club to feature just four times in the Premier League last season.
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With a return to Germany preferred, Bella-Kotchap also has interest from Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach while Hamburg also showed an interest in the central-defender in January, but a move never materialised when they were in the 2. Bundesliga. Should HSV push to sign Bella-Kotchap, he would become the second defender to arrive after Jordan Torunarigha.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
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