By Peter Weis @PeterVicey
FC Union Berlin confirmed contract extension and loan out for young defensive midfield prospect Aljoscha Kemlein on Sunday. Twenty-six-year-old attacking winger Keita Endo has also been shipped out.
| Aljoscha Kemlein | FC St. Pauli |
After making three relief appearances for the FCU senior squad this season, 19-year-old defensive midfielder Aljoscha Kemlein will get an opportunity to accrue more playing experience with 2. Bundesliga promotion candidates this spring. Union Berlin confirmed a loan-out for their homegrown prospect on Sunday. Kemlein extended his expiring contract with his parent club prior to the official completion of the loan arrangement.
“Aljoscha is a very talented and young player who has taken enormous developmental strides in recent months,” FCU managing director Oliver Ruhnert noted in a statement, “That’s why we’re also counting on his abilities in the future. We also want to give him the opportunity to gain more playing time after his debuts in the Bundesliga and Champions League.”
Ruhnert and his administrative team confirmed a second transaction on Sunday. Japanese winger Keita Endo – recently returned from a failed loan-stint with Eintracht Braunschweig – will be headed back to his native country. The deal sending the once-capped German Japanese international to FC Tokyo is technically a loan that shall run through December of 2024.
Ruhnert nevertheless strongly suggested in this public comments that the move would turn into a permanent transfer, potentially via the inclusion of a low-cost purchase option. Endo scored just one Bundesliga goal in 20 top-tier appearances for die Eisernen. He failed to register a tally in 27 appearances across all competitions for the second division Lower Saxon side.
“Keita’s wish and the loan with a probable transition to a full return to Japan constitutes the proper solution for all sides,” Ruhnert is quoted as saying on Union’s website, “[Tokyo receive] a highly motivated player. We have been offered a very good economic and sporting options.”
