Danny Hoesen and Florian Jungwirth excited for MLS adventure with the San Jose Earthquakes

In round of two of the club’s preseason acquisitions, the San Jose Earthquakes welcomed Dutch forward Danny Hoesen and German defender Florian Jungwith to the team this week. Hoesen joins on a one-year loan with an option to buy from FC Groningen of the Dutch Eredivisie, and Jungwirth signed a multi-year contract after being released from SV Darmstadt 98 of the German Bundesliga.

“Here we have two very exciting signings that are coming from Europe,” said general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “They can’t wait to wear the jersey and start with the team.”

Both players were acquired using Targeted Allocation Money, so neither has a contract that surpasses the Designated Player salary threshold. In addition, the Quakes paid a transfer fee to Darmstadt to complete the transaction for Jungwirth. Both players will be added to San Jose’s roster when MLS opens its primary transfer window on February 14, but they are free to participate with the team during preseason training and matches.

“It is a great day for me, because it was always in my dreams for several years to come here,” said Jungwirth. “We had a lot of phone calls over the last few weeks, and from the first minute, I felt that this was the club I wanted to join.”

Jungwirth, a 28 year old that has made numerous appearances with the German youth national teams but has not earned a cap with the senior team, has stated publicly for many years his desire to play in MLS. He leaves a Darmstadt side that has struggled this season, where he played predominantly as a defensive midfielder, but he also has experience the defensive back four, adding to his effectiveness.

“Florian is a player that can play in several positions,” said Fioranelli. “He’s a defensive all-arounder, Which means he started his career playing as a central defender with the German (youth) national team, and he was captain as well. He then moved slightly up ahead of the defense, and in the last several years, he has played at right back and on the left as well. He has that versatility that we are looking for.”

Hoesen, at 26 years old, is a tall, but athletic forward that uses speed and agility to elude defenders. He started his professional career with Fulham of the English Premier League as a 17-year-old, and he’s also played for storied Dutch club Ajax. In 12 appearances with Groningen this season, the Dutch striker has scored 4 goals.

“I am very happy to be here,” said Hoesen. “It’s been an objective in my life and for my career. I feel I needed something new in my career, and I had this option come by. I am a player that makes decisions from my heart, and I felt a lot of energy after talking to Jesse.”

The one year loan deal San Jose reached with Groningen expires at the conclusion of the 2017 MLS season, but the Quakes will have an option to buy his contract. Effectively, Hoesen’s move to the Earthquakes provides new scenario for a forward that will want to prove his worth. Fioranelli hopes the opportunity to have Hoesen on the Quakes will prove advantageous for both parties.

“Danny is an exciting forward that has made important experiences with Ajax, before that with Fulham, and lately with Groningen,” said Fioranelli. “He also is a versatile striker because he can play more than one position. He covers the ground and space of several players.”

Following their formal presentation by the Earthquakes, the two players, along with Fioranelli flew to Arizona to join the rest of the team as they participate in preseason. The Quakes play Real Salt Lake in the second of three friendlies in the desert later this week, but the team will give Jungwirth and Hoesen a few days to acclimate to their new surroundings before they take the field. With a month to go before the MLS season opener, welcoming two more players into the mix gives time to build team chemistry.