Hamburg have confirmed three separate loan transactions involving defender Aboubaka Soumahoro, midfielder Immanuel Pherai, and striker Otto Stange. The complex web of move on transfer deadline day featured plenty of administrative wrangling from the HSV administrative team, who yesterday decided against taking on Borussia Dortmund defender Almugera Kabar due to fitness issues.
Pherai and Stange part of Elversberg switch
Hamburg opted to loan 18-year-old striker Otto Stange out to 2. Bundesliga outfit SV Elversberg at the beginning of the season. The native Hamburger did well in his second division station, scoring three goals contributing two assists in 11 league appearances. HSV wished to recall Stange early as part of their January transfer window attempt to shore up their attack, but encountered resistance from the Saarland outfit.
It was such that Immanuel Pherai – an attacking midfielder with a proven track record in the 2. Bundesliga – was offered up to Elversberg. Hamburg had been shopping Pherai for a transfer over the course of the entire window and had even worked out a loan to 1. FC Nürnberg. The Stange deal nevertheless led to the 1. FCN transfer falling through.
Soumaharo heads back to France
Hamburg only just signed Soumaharo during the 2025 winter transfer window. After not making any 2. Bundesliga appearances for the Hanseatic outfit last spring, the 20-year-old made four Bundesliga appearances this year. The France U20 international – formerly of Paris FC – will head back to Ligue 2 with AS St. Etienne.
“The prospects for playing time are better in Saint-Etienne than they currently are with us and this is essential for his further development,” said HSV sporting director Claus Costa noted in a club statement. “We will continue to keep a close eye on Abou’s progress.”
