Osnabrück kicks off pre-season with Opitz loan as Kehl leaves for Darmstadt

Seventh summer signing

VfL Osnabrück presented Leon Opitz as their seventh new addition during Saturday’s first pre-season session. The 21-year-old attacking player arrives on a season-long loan from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen after spending last year at Karlsruher SC.

We communicated early that we want to further increase our pace in the offensive. Leon fits perfectly into the profile we defined.

I really want to continue writing the success story with VfL. In discussions with the people in charge, a very clear plan was shown to me, which convinced me.

Opitz, a former Germany under-18 and under-19 international, can play across the attack.

Training begins under the sun

Coach Timo Schultz moved the opening session forward to 10 a.m. as temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius. Sport director Enochs acknowledged the cardiovascular strain but said the coaching staff was adapting the workload.

We will continue to perform as we did last season and win our games.

Schultz stressed that the squad must reach a higher level to compete in the second division.

Kehl chooses Darmstadt

Midfielder Lars Kehl, who contributed 21 goal involvements in 36 matches during the promotion campaign, has joined league rivals SV Darmstadt 98 on a free transfer. The 24-year-old had rejected a contract extension in Osnabrück.

Lars is a player who, from the attacking midfield, poses a lot of goal threat and can play the final pass. His impressive numbers from the last two seasons in Osnabrück prove that.

Kehl had been with VfL for three years.

Looking ahead

Osnabrück have already secured six other signings: Leonhard Münst (Viktoria Köln), Luca Raimund (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Jonas Krumrey (Holstein Kiel), Lukas Bornschein (HSV II), Joel Abu Hanna (Levadiakos) and Jonathan Wensing (SV Meppen). The 2. Bundesliga season starts between 7 and 9 August, and the DFL will publish the fixture list on 2 July.