Hannover 96 has been making headlines lately. With one attacking transfer that worked out, one that likely won’t, and a victory in a friendly match.

There have probably been more boring days to be a Hannover 96 fan. And not just because of the promotion race in the 2. Bundesliga. On Monday morning, January 5, the historic club from the Leine River first officially announced the loan signing of Noah Weißhaupt. The left winger is joining from SC Freiburg with an option to buy.

“Noah is versatile and can play on either wing. He has great speed, is dynamic in his acceleration, and is strong in one-on-one situations. Despite his young age, he already has some experience at the Bundesliga level. With him, we’re further expanding our options on offense,” commented Hannover’s managing director, Jörg Schmadtke, on the deal.

Weißhaupt, who has 74 Bundesliga appearances (two goals, eight assists) to his credit, will initially remain with the club until the end of the season. Most recently, he was on loan to Legia Warsaw during the first half of the current season—that loan has now been terminated.

“When the opportunity arose to join Hannover 96, I was determined to take it. The style of soccer the team plays suits the strengths I can bring to the table very well. Of course, I did some research beforehand and heard nothing but good things about the team. Accordingly, I’m really looking forward to joining training now and quickly familiarizing myself with the style of play,” said the 24-year-old.

This, in turn, aligns with a report from “Sky” stating that the transfer of Silas Katompa Mvumpa will not go through. The lightning-fast winger from VfB Stuttgart was most recently linked with Hannover, but is now reportedly negotiating a transfer with 1. FSV Mainz 05. The Bundesliga’s last-place team is reportedly set to pay a modest transfer fee, which is expected to increase if they avoid relegation. The player and Mainz still need to reach an agreement.

But even without Silas, Hannover has nothing to hide—quite the opposite. In a friendly match later that day, coach Christian Titz’s team defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–0. Benjamin Källmann (44′), Havard Nielsen (53′), and Benedikt Pichler (85′) scored for 96. Weißhaupt made his 96 debut in the 74th minute, coming on as a substitute for Boris Tomiak.

The starting lineups for both teams

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Nicolas – Takai, Elvedi, Diks – Scally, Ullrich, Engelhardt, Stöger, Neuhaus, Cvancara – Tabakovic

Hannover 96

Noll – Allgeier, Tomiak, Ghita – Neubauer, Leopold, Aseko Nkili, Oudenne – Yokota, Källman, Taibi