Eintracht Frankfurt have continued their summer business by tying down young midfielder Marc Stendera to a new contract.
The 20-year-old has extended his deal until June 2020, although he is set to miss a large chunk of next season after injuring his cruciate ligament in the relegation play-off second leg against Nürnberg in May.
It is another good bit of business for the Eagles, who made Omar Mascarell their fifth new signing of the summer on Wednesday.
Frankfurt show their faith
Stendera, who has picked up two caps for the German under-21 side, is naturally pleased to sign a longer deal, and with the “trust” that the club have shown in him.
“After the cruciate ligament it is a great sign,” he told the club's official website, “and I am extremely happy that I can play for Eintracht Frankfurt for the next four years.”
Bruno Hübner, the club’s sporting director, said the club was eager to tie him down to a longer deal, and to “show our appreciation of him,” despite his injury.
He explained that Stendera “is a very talented player that with his vision and commitment will play an important part in our future planning.”
A promising future
Stendera is a player that is widely considered to have a bright future. He joined the club as a teenager from OSC Vellmar in 2010.
He made his debut from the bench against Bayern Munich in April 2013, and has since gone on to make 62 appearances for the club, despite missing most of the 2013-14 season with a cruciate ligament rupture.
He appeared 26 times last season, when he also contributed two goals and one assist. Although the club eventually secured its survival with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Nürnberg in the relegation play-off, there was further agony for Stendera who had to be taken off early on in the second leg, with the club later confirming he had damaged his cruciate ligament.
He is not expected back until late 2016 at the earliest, and Niko Kovač’s men will be eager to welcome back into the team as they look to avoid another relegation battle.