Bittencourt makes the switch to TSG Hoffenheim

“Leonardo is a very technically gifted and agile player who is extremely hard to defend in one-on-one situations. He finds his way out of tight spaces again and again and will help us greatly when we have to go up against teams that sit back deep and defend,” says Alexander Rosen. “Leo played predominantly on the left wing in Cologne, but he was also able to play in a number of different positions. He’s already proven that he can be an above average player in the Bundesliga. We’re really looking forward to having him as a part of our squad,” explains the director of football.

“Hoffenheim have been a very well run club for years now and the fact that they’ve helped several players make the jump to the German senior national team was something that impressed me a lot as an ambitious young player. Julian Nagelsmann has really impressed me as well and I’m sure that I will benefit greatly from working with him and continue to get better,” says Bittencourt before continuing: “It was important to me that I was able to play in the Bundesliga and also at the European level. I have the chance to do that at Hoffenheim. I’m confident that I can really be an important piece of the puzzle here with what I can bring to the table,” he explains, whose father Franklin played for Energie Cottbus and VfB Leipzig in the Bundesliga himself.

Bittencourt, who is of German and also Brazilian descent, has played in 129 games combined for Borussia Dortmund, Hannover 96 and 1. FC Cologne in the German top flight. He’s scored 17 goals in that time, alongside collecting 23 assists. He made 29 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga (2 goals). Aside from making four appearances in the Europa League and two in the Champions League, the Leipzig-born Bittencourt has also represented Germany at the youth level on 35 occasions (U18 until U21.