Sami Khedira has decided to return to German Bundesliga after over 10 years of football outside the league; a journey he started at Real Madrid and ended at Juventus. He has signed for Hertha BSC for free.
The 33-year-old German center-midfielder left the German Bundesliga on July 30, 2010, to join Real Madrid from VfB Stuttgart for a transfer fee worth €14 million. He played for Real Madrid for 5 years before he left the club.
Before Sami Khedira decided to leave Real Madrid for Juventus in 2015, the Germany international scored a total number of 9 goals and provided 13 assists in 161 appearances.
During his time at Madrid, the center-midfielder helped the club to win one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey, one Supercopa de España, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
On July 1, 2015, Juventus had the opportunity to sign the midfielder for free because Real Madrid failed to renew his contract before it expired.
A World Cup winner and German champion returns! 🇩🇪
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) February 1, 2021
Welcome back to the #Bundesliga, @SamiKhedira! 👋 pic.twitter.com/p7XkZ2sWiw
While at Juventus, Sami Khedira scored 21 goals and provided 13 assists in 145 appearances in all competitions. His effort helped Juventus to win 5 successive Italian Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia, and one Supercoppa Italiana.
Things got bad for him under Juventus’ new coach Andrea Pirlo that he was not able to make any appearance for Juventus since the commencement of the 2020-2021 season.
Juventus failed to renew his contract which forced him to return to his home country after signing for Hertha BSC. The former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder will wear Jersey number 28 at Hertha.
“Hertha made great efforts to sign me and offered me the opportunity to return to the Bundesliga. I’m grateful for that and, I honestly cannot wait for the moment when I’ll be wearing the blue and white shirt on the pitch for the first time,” said Khedira.
“I feel great physically would like to use the experience I have gained in recent years to help the team and lead Hertha BSC to more sporting success.”
While Hertha’s CEO Carsten Schmidt said: “Sami Khedira is a successful leader on the pitch and a name that is recognised around the world. I am delighted that we have been able to bring him to Hertha BSC.
“I am convinced that with his personality on and off the pitch, he will give our young team the stability it needs to be successful.”
💬 "I see myself as an established player who should bring some stability to this young team!" 💪
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) February 1, 2021
Hear more from @SamiKhedira in his first interview as a Herthaner 👉 https://t.co/hPThy1EXFp#HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/SVVuqlC149
Hertha’s sporting director, Arne Friedrich said: “We were together at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and played together on the pitch. I know the leadership qualities that he has and am therefore very pleased he is a Hertha BSC player.”
