Women’s Bundesliga side SGS Essen have strengthened their squad for the upcoming season. Austrian international Lilli Purtscheller will join the SGS.

The women’s Bundesliga club SGS Essen has signed Austrian international Lilli Purtscheller. The 19-year-old striker joins from SK Sturm Graz, taking the same route as her teammate Valentina Kröll, who is also moving to Essen in the summer.

“I am overjoyed to be able to count a senior international from Austria among our squad as of this summer,” explains SGS head coach Markus Högner. The 56-year-old praises the profile of the young international: “Lilli is a very flexible player offensively. She can play centrally or create danger from the outside positions. She has a lot of potential, is young and has already achieved a lot.

The 19-year-old Purtscheller is also looking forward to her next career step: “My goal has always been to go abroad. I want to assert myself in a new country, but also in a new league, prove myself there and also develop further.” On her footballing strengths, she says: “I am always brave and want to assert myself. I look for creative solutions and can rely on my good technique.”

Purtscheller learned to play football when she was about six years old with the boys of SC Zirl (Tyrol), then moved to the ladies of Wacker Innsbruck in the 2nd Austrian league. After promotion to the first division with Wacker, the Innsbruck native transferred to SK Sturm Graz.

Why the attacker finally decided to move to the seventh-placed team in the current Bundesliga season, she explains: “The coach relies on young players. He gives me the chance to play if I present myself well. He relies on youth. I simply realise that Essen is the perfect club for me. Purtscheller is also pleased that she will be playing together with her long-time team-mate Valentina Kröll, whom she has known since she was 13.

The Austrian, who suffered a serious knee injury only a year ago, also wants to recommend herself for further appearances in the national team, for which she made her debut this April. “Lilli wants to confirm her call-up with us. Our goal is to support her in the best possible way,” SGS coach Markus Högner also hopes for a continued positive development of his new offensive force.