Meffert: “The offer was very, very tempting”

Jonas Meffert has been playing for Hamburger SV since 2021.
IMAGO/Eibner

Hull City and his former coach Tim Walter had been vying hard for the services of the 29-year-old midfield strategist and he had been swearing on the subject for weeks. Until Saturday, the first day after the transfer window closed. Jonas Meffert assures that deadline day is no longer a focus for him. “The decision had been made beforehand and that was good for me and my game.” The Cologne native kept order in the Hamburg center as usual, demonstrating the qualities that had led the bosses and the coach not to give him a release.

He openly admitted that he was attracted to England and a third collaboration with Walter after his engagements in Kiel and Hamburg. “The offer was very, very tempting and I looked into it.” The English second division club had lured him with a lucrative three-year contract, and Meffert says: “Everyone knows how much I like Tim Walter and his football.” He openly admits: “The last few weeks have not been easy for me, there has been a lot on my mind and I have been thinking a lot. I think anyone would have done that in my situation, but I am trying to deal with it as best I can now.”

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It was important for him that HSV not only held up the stop sign, but also did some convincing. “The club and the coach sent a clear message about how much they wanted to keep me here.” His contract on the Elbe still runs for another year, but includes an extension option that is tied to his playing time. Given his status, despite the increased competition in all positions, this is usually guaranteed, and the ex-Freiburg player also stresses that he does not feel compelled to stay: “To say I am frustrated now would be the wrong choice of words. Everyone knows what this club means to me. I know: I can play for HSV.

And with regard to the situation surrounding his teammate Mario Vuskovic, who has been banned until 2026 for doping, he says: “When our fans sang for Mario during the warm-up and the whole stadium clapped, I got goosebumps. It touched me and I thought in that moment that what I was thinking about was ridiculous in comparison.