Image Credits: Imago Images
Ozan Kabak’s time at Liverpool didn’t go the way he would’ve dreamt of.
Amidst a defensive injury crisis during the 2020/21 season following long-term injuries to Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool looked to Ozan Kabak to provide much needed cover within a backline that was in disarray.
Jurgen Klopp found himself so short of centre-backs that season that midfielders such as Jordan Hednerson and Fabinho found themselves having a run of games at the heart of defence.
Kabak arrived after showing real promise with Schalke 04.
Just 20 years old at the time, he made the brave move to sign for Liverpool on loan in January 2021 and appeared in 13 official matches across all competitions for the Reds.
Despite the loan agreement including a purchase option of £18million, which could’ve potentially risen to £26.5million with add-ons, Liverpool decided not to activate this option and the defender returned to Schalke 04 in the summer.
In August 2021, Ozan Kabak gave it a second go in the Premier League and joined Norwich City on loan for the season, and the club also had an option to make that deal permanent but failed to do so.
In 2022, Kabak transferred from Schalke 04 to Hoffenheim, and his career has got back on track.
Since signing for the Bundesliga side he has played 84 games, scoring 12 goals and 5 assists.
His impressive exploits at centre-back have now earned him a contract extension with Fabrizio Romano delivering an update today.
Via a post on X, Romano said: “Ozan Kabak has agreed to sign new long-term deal at Hoffenheim. Despite proposals from France, Italy and Germany he’s set to sign a contract until June 2030.”
Get German Football News provide further details on the new deal, revealing that the extension provides the defender with an option at a different career path if he wishes via a release clause of 25million euros.
Ozan Kabak has done brilliantly well to respond in the way he has after becoming a key part of Hoffenheim’s defence after sitting out the entirety of the 2024/25 season through injury.
Jurgen Klopp once said this about Ozan Kabak that backs up that idea:
“He is a great talent, and we look forward to working with him. He has a strong personality. He went abroad at a very young age. He could have played for any team he wanted in Turkey. But he transferred to Stuttgart, to Schalke. He could have gone wherever he wanted, but he wanted to climb the ladder, and we are a good stepping stone for him.”
His fight and bravery are key attributes to his recent success, and it is safe to say he has found his new home in football.
🚨🇹🇷 Ozan Kabak has agreed to sign new long term deal at Hoffenheim.
Despite proposals from France, Italy and Germany he’s set to sign a contract until June 2030. pic.twitter.com/UiU34wKnGX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 12, 2026
