A lot is going on at Alemannia Aachen this Friday. Two players have to leave, but a new player for the 3rd division has arrived.

With Ismail Harnafi, Alemannia Aachen have signed an attacking player from West Regional League side 1. FC Düren. With seven goals and seven assists in 32 appearances, he was the second-best scorer for 1. FC Düren in the 2023/24 Regionalliga West season.

The attacker had already joined FCD in 2022, having previously played for Fortuna Köln for a year. He made a total of 54 appearances in the fourth-highest league for Düren and the Südstadt club. Harnafi trained at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he played in all youth teams up to and including the U19s.

“With Ismail, we are signing a talented and extremely interesting player who has attracted the attention of many clubs with his strong performances. During the three games against us this season, we sensed that he could be a real boost for us. Now we are delighted that the transfer has been successful and that we will see him in black and yellow in the new season. His qualities are a real asset for us,” said Alemannia’s managing director Sascha Eller.

Harnafi himself was also clearly looking forward to his new role: “Alemannia Aachen is a big club with incredible energy on and off the pitch. I was impressed when I came here to the Tivoli with Düren. Now I want to play in front of these great fans myself and help the team as best I can. I’m looking forward to a very exciting task in League Three, especially at such a traditional club.”

Meanwhile, Alemannia also announced that two players will not be moving on. Kilian Pagliuca, an attacking midfielder from Switzerland, will leave Aachen when his contract expires in the summer, as will goalkeeper Jan Strauch, who previously spent eight years at the club. Both players will therefore be free of charge and can look for new clubs