Hansa Rostock Sign David Kopacz
- Hansa Rostock have signed 27-year-old attacking midfielder David Kopacz from Zweitliga promoted side VfL Osnabrück as their 12th summer signing.
- Kopacz scored seven goals last season to help Osnabrück win promotion and has accumulated 50 goal involvements across 148 third-division appearances.
- Sporting director Amir Shapourzadeh cited Kopacz's third-division experience, goal threat, and clear desire to join as the decisive factors in the deal.
Hansa Rostock have completed the signing of attacking midfielder David Kopacz, 27, from second-division promoted side VfL Osnabrück, ending a prolonged search for a number ten ahead of the new third-division season.
Kopacz ends Hansa's midfield search
The German-Polish midfielder arrives as Rostock's twelfth summer signing and is understood to fill the last open position in the club's squad — the creative central role the club had been actively targeting. The deal is also reported to have effectively closed the door on a potential move for Nick Bätzner, whose name had previously been linked with the position.
Kopacz had already been absent from Osnabrück's matchday squad when the club beat VfL Bochum 1-0 on Friday evening, signalling that his departure was imminent. He had made two starts and scored one goal in the new season before the switch.
Statistics that convinced Rostock
Kopacz brings a substantial record in the professional German pyramid. Across 148 third-division appearances, he has scored 23 goals and registered 27 assists — 50 goal involvements in total. In 34 second-division matches, he added a further four goals and six assists. Last season, his seven league goals made him Osnabrück's fourth-highest scorer as the club won promotion.
Hansa sporting director Amir Shapourzadeh explained the rationale: "David brings a great deal of experience from the third division across his 148 appearances and knows what matters in this league. At the same time, he is an offensively minded midfielder who constantly looks to drive forward with his energy and running power, and can be a genuine goal threat himself." Shapourzadeh added that Kopacz's versatility and unambiguous desire to join were significant factors: "In our conversations he made very clear that he absolutely wanted to take on this challenge. That was an important consideration in bringing him to Rostock."
Kopacz, speaking on his arrival, said: "I am very much looking forward to the new challenge. Hansa is a special club, and I quickly sensed during the discussions that both sides were aligned in their thinking."
Background and development
Born in Iserlohn, Kopacz came through the academy system at Borussia Dortmund and represented Poland's youth national teams from under-15 to under-21 level. He has previously played for Górnik Zabrze, Würzburger Kickers, and FC Ingolstadt before moving to Osnabrück. At Hansa he will wear the number 27 shirt.
The arrival of an experienced, goal-contributing midfielder caps a busy summer for a club that has been navigating significant financial pressures off the pitch, and is intended to sharpen a Rostock attack that struggled for cutting edge in recent campaigns. Other arrivals this summer have also been tasked with revitalising the squad's forward play.
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