FC St. Pauli

Fazliji, who has Swiss and Kosovo citizenship, joined St. Gallen in 2014 and rose through the youth ranks. The 23-year-old made the step up to the senior squad in 2019 and made 87 league appearances plus nine in the cup over three seasons, contributing five goals and one assist. Fazliji has also played 14 times for Kosovo.

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Reaction to the deal

Director of sport Andreas Bornemann: "Betim fits our requirements profile very well. He can occupy various positions in the back four but also feels at home in defensive midfield. He has improved steadily in recent years and gained experience at a high level. We're delighted we've been able to convince him of our path and are confident he will take the next steps in his development with us."

Head coach Timo Schultz: "I'm looking forward to working with Betim. He's still young but has been consistent in his performances in recent years and has moved on from the status of promising young talent. In Betim, we are getting a versatile defensive player who is equally strong on the ball and in the tackle, a player who will give us more flexibility and also intensify the battle for places."

Betim Fazliji: "I'm very excited about the new challenge at St. Pauli. Moving to Hamburg and a new league is a big step for me after eight years at St. Gallen, but the club presented a very good plan. The active style of play suits me very well. I look forward to becoming part of a young and exuberant team and would like to contribute to our collective success as soon as possible."

Photos: Witters