Millions rain for crisis club
Hertha BSC is finally getting rid of its top earner
08/24/2023 10:52 p.m
The next prominent departure: After Marco Richter and Suat Serdar, Dodi Lukebakio is also leaving Hertha BSC. The club waving important millions. There may now be minimal scope for much-needed relegated reinforcements.
After months of transfer speculation, Dodi Lukebakio is leaving second division soccer team Hertha BSC for Spain. As the Berliners announced, the 25-year-old is moving to first division side FC Sevilla. According to media reports, the financially troubled club is to receive around ten million euros plus bonuses as a fee. As usual, no official information was given. Lukebakio moved from FC Watford to Berlin in 2019 and was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg in the 2021/22 season. Last season he was Hertha’s top scorer in the league (eleven goals). Like Hertha, Sevilla belongs to the network of the investor 777 Partners.
Lukebakio is said to have been one of the top earners among Berliners. Hertha had long announced that they wanted to give up the offensive player and, according to sports director Benjamin Weber, was in constant contact with Lukebakio and his advisor. The Belgian had not been in the squad for the club’s previous competitive games either. “Dodi’s footballing qualities are undisputed. But it is also true that everyone involved has been aware since the beginning of the season that our common path will end,” sports director Benjamin Weber was quoted as saying in the message. Marco Richter (FSV Mainz 05) and Suat Serdar (Hellas Verona, loan) had previously left the club.
For a long time it looked like the Belgian would join Burnley FC in the Premier League. Now Seville won the race. The transfer brings Hertha important millions for the financial restructuring. It is possible that the Bundesliga relegated team, who is also currently struggling in league two, now have minimal scope for urgently needed reinforcements. The rumored preferred candidate for defensive midfield, ex-Leipziger Diego Demme from SSC Napoli, is said to have canceled the club, according to media reports.