Earn with Nexo
1. FC Heidenheim signs Paul Hennrich from TSG Hoffenheim for 1.5M euros
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder moves to Heidenheim as the Bundesliga club continues building with young talent
Paul Hennrich is heading to 1. FC Heidenheim. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder and right winger leaves TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in a deal worth approximately 1.5 million euros, marking a new chapter for a player who came up through one of Germany’s most respected youth academies.
For a club like Heidenheim, which has built its identity on smart recruitment and player development rather than splashy spending, this is exactly the kind of move that fits the blueprint. Young, versatile, and valued right around his market worth of 1.2 million euros, Hennrich represents a calculated bet on upside.
From Hoffenheim’s academy to a fresh start
Hennrich joined TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s youth setup back in 2020, spending years developing within a system that has produced a steady pipeline of Bundesliga-ready talent. He earned his first professional contract with the club on July 2, 2025, a milestone that signaled the organization believed in his trajectory.
Hennrich’s appearances at the senior level remained limited, including a Bundesliga debut that offered a taste of top-flight football without the sustained run of games a young player needs to truly develop.
What Heidenheim is building
The club’s incoming transfers for the 2025/26 season have totaled around 1.5 million euros, spread across several younger players. Hennrich fits this approach at 21, with versatility across attacking positions, capable of operating as both a right winger and an attacking midfielder.
The fee itself, 1.5 million euros, sits just above Hennrich’s estimated market value of 1.2 million euros. That slight premium suggests Hoffenheim retained some leverage in negotiations, likely reflecting their belief that Hennrich’s value could have risen further with more exposure.
What this means for both clubs
For Hoffenheim, recouping 1.5 million euros for an academy product generates pure profit on the balance sheet. For Heidenheim, a 21-year-old with Bundesliga experience, even if limited, brings a baseline quality that matters for a club operating at this level.