Leeds agree deal to sign highly-rated Anton Stach from Hoffenheim
Leeds United are on the brink of completing their sixth summer signing, with German midfielder Anton Stach set to join from Hoffenheim in a deal worth €20m (£17m), rising with add-ons.
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The 25-year-old is expected to pen a four-year deal and will bring height, tenacity and top-level pedigree to Daniel Farke's midfield — forming a powerful new partnership with fellow arrival Sean Longstaff.
Towering at 6ft 4in, Stach was a central figure for Hoffenheim last season, ranking third in the squad for both successful passes and distance covered, and second for total duels won. Statistically, he stood out across Europe — placing in the 93rd percentile for interceptions (1.65 per 90) and an elite 99th percentile for clearances (3.65 per 90) among players in Europe's top five leagues.
A gritty, physical midfielder who does the unseen work and rarely shirks a challenge, Stach has drawn comparisons to Stefan Effenberg for his aggressive but intelligent style.
After stints in Germany's lower leagues with Osnabrück, Jeddeloh and Wolfsburg's reserves, Stach finally got his break with Greuther Fürth in 2020/21. He made 30 appearances that season, helping Fürth seal promotion with one of the tightest defences in the league.
That form earned him a call-up to Germany's U21s, where he featured in five of six matches en route to winning the UEFA U21 Euros in Hungary and Slovenia.
His Bundesliga debut came at Mainz, where he notched one goal, three assists and seven clean sheets in just 21 matches — form good enough to earn a senior Germany call-up in March 2022. He made his full international debut in a 2-0 win over Israel.
Since moving to Hoffenheim in 2023, he's become an ever-present force in midfield, with three goals, six assists and a leadership presence that belies his years.
With Leeds back in the Premier League and Farke building a side that blends experience with energy, Stach looks like a signing that ticks all the right boxes — technically sharp, physically imposing, and with a career built on resilience and steady growth.