Hoffenheim close to securing Ozan Kabak with long-term contract extension
TSG Hoffenheim are in the final stages of negotiations to secure defender Ozan Kabak to a new long-term contract, according to a report from Sky Germany. The proposed deal is understood to run until the summer of 2030, a significant commitment that would see the 25-year-old centre-back remain at the club well into his prime years.
While a final agreement has not yet been signed, discussions are reportedly focused on the finer details, with the potential inclusion of a release clause believed to be a key point of negotiation. Kabak's current contract was set to expire at the end of this season, making his renewal a major priority for the Bundesliga club's sporting management.
The Turkish international has re-established himself as a crucial figure for Hoffenheim after a challenging period. Kabak joined the club from Schalke 04 in the summer of 2022 for a fee reported to be around five million euros. His first season was severely disrupted by a persistent pubic bone injury that limited his availability and impact.
However, since returning to full fitness in December, Kabak has been a mainstay in manager Pellegrino Matarazzo's back line. His commanding presence and recovery pace have solidified a defence that has shown improvement in the second half of the campaign. His consistent performances have evidently convinced the club's hierarchy of his long-term value, prompting the push for an extension well before he could speak to other clubs as a free agent.
For Kabak, the security of a long-term deal at a stable Bundesliga club represents a chance to fully rebuild his career after his injury struggles and a difficult spell in the Premier League with Liverpool and Norwich City prior to his move to Hoffenheim. The proposed contract until 2030 offers him a platform for sustained growth and the opportunity to become a defensive leader for the foreseeable future.
From a club perspective, securing a player of Kabak's quality and potential on a free transfer would be considered a major coup. Losing him for nothing in the summer was a tangible risk, and his renewal protects a significant asset. His continued development under Matarazzo will be central to Hoffenheim's ambitions of consistently challenging for European qualification in the coming seasons. The resolution of these contract talks, expected imminently, will allow all parties to plan with certainty for the future.
