VfB Homberg has strengthened itself with another player for next season. He comes from a relegated Oberliga team and used to play in the Schalke youth team.

VfB Homberg had to tremble for a long time, but in the final spurt of the season, the Duisburg team managed to stay in the Oberliga Niederrhein.

The Homberg team, relegated from the Regionalliga West a year ago, is currently planning its squad for the upcoming season. Another signing has now been finalised: Luca Kazelis joins VfB from FC Kray.

Kazelis was relegated from the Oberliga with the Essen club in the last round, so he will not meet his former club in the Homberg jersey. The 24-year-old spent the last three years in Kray.

Before that, he had played for Sportfreunde Niederwenigern and gained regional league experience for the U23 of Fortuna Düsseldorf (three games). Kazelis once completed his final year as a junior with the state capital and was then transferred to the regional league team after training for four years at FC Schalke 04’s Knappenschmiede.

In the Oberliga Niederrhein, the left winger has made 53 appearances so far, scoring three goals. “VfB Homberg warmly welcomes Luca Kazelis and wishes him an injury-free, athletically successful and thoroughly enjoyable time at the Rheindeich,” his future club announced on Facebook.

Kazelis is by no means the first new addition to Stefan Janßen’s team. It is striking that almost all of the reinforcements come from rivals in the top division.

VfB Homberg: Transfers at a glance (as of 11 June)

Additions: Heni Ben Salah (SV Straelen), Pierre Nowitzki (Ratingen 04/19), Jonas Haub (TVD Velbert), Luca Kazelis (FC Kray), Marcel Kretschmer (KFC Uerdingen), Nermin Badnjevic (Spielvereinigung Schonnebeck), Julian Bode (Hamborn 07), Bilal Akhal (ETB SW Essen), Motoki Fukushima (unsigned)

Departures: Johannes Sabah (SF Lotte), Samuel Owusu Addai (ETB SW Essen), Taoufiq Naciri, Ahmed-Malik Uzun, Armel-Aurel Nkam, Mahame Dianka, Noah Schulz, Tim Füten (all destination unknown)