1. FC Union Berlin have secured the services of László Bénes for the coming season. The 26-year-old midfielder comes to Köpenick from Hamburger SV.

From Slovakia to the Bundesliga

Bénes began his football career at Šamorín and then moved to the youth section of Hungarian club Győri ETO FC via DAC Dunajská Streda in 2011, where he made his professional debut for the first team in December 2014 at the age of 17. In February 2015, Bénes joined MŠK Žilina, where he played eight league games before the end of a season in which they finished second in the table. He established himself as a regular in the 2015/16 season - making 23 appearances and scoring twice - and scored his first professional goal in a 3-0 home win against ŠK Slovan Bratislava on 12 September 2015.

The Slovakian moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach for the start of the 2016/17 season. He made his Bundesliga debut on 19 March 2017 at the age of 20 in a home match against FC Bayern München, coming on as a substitute in the closing stages. A few days later, on 5 April 2017, he scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 1-0 home win against Hertha BSC.

Having only played a few minutes in the first half of 2018/19, he moved to second-division club Holstein Kiel on loan at the end of January 2019, where he made 15 2. Liga appearances, scoring two goals. After returning to Mönchengladbach, the left-footer played regularly under new coach Marco Rose in the 2019/20 season.

On the last day of the winter transfer window, a loan to FC Augsburg was agreed until the end of the 2020/21 season. Bénes played 12 of a possible 15 league games for Augsburg and scored one goal. He was back in the Borussia Mönchengladbach squad the next season but ultimately sought a new challenge at second-division club Hamburger SV, where he was involved in 42 goals in 64 games.

Bénes is currently wearing the number eleven for the Slovakian national team at the 2024 European Championships and played in Group E against Belgium, Romania and Ukraine. The "Sokoli" will face England in the last 16 on Sunday. He has made 23 appearances for Slovakia so far, scoring twice and providing four assists.

Three facts about László

He made his Bundesliga debut against FC Bayern München at the age of 20.

With 15 goals, he was HSV's second-highest scorer behind Robert Glatzel.

When Bénes moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach, the transfer fee made him the most expensive player ever to be transferred from a Slovakian club.

The views on the transfer

"Union are a very good club in Germany,” said an excited Bénes on his move to Union. “I'm looking forward to getting to know the team soon, and my motivation is to perform again in the Bundesliga and to support the club in their sporting goals in the best possible way."

"In László, we are gaining a versatile midfielder who can always create chances with his set pieces, among other things,” said Horst Heldt, Union’s designated director of men's professional football, who carried out the transfer in close consultation with his predecessor, Oliver Ruhnert. “In addition, he has already gained a lot of valuable experience in German football in recent years, which is why we are convinced that he will strengthen our team."