1. FC Union Berlin’s men’s team have strengthened their left wing with the signing of Robert Skov. The Dane, who was recently without a club, played for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga until the end of last season.

Born in Spain - Denmark in his heart

Although the now 28-year-old Skov was born in Marbella on the Costa del Sol in Spain, his international footballing destiny was sealed when he moved to Denmark at the age of six months. He discovered the game there as a child at Sejs-Svejbæk IF, joining the academy system of partner club Silkeborg IF at the age of 11. It was there that his development accelerated rapidly, and he made his professional debut in the Danish Superliga in the 2012/13 season at just 16 years old when the team drew 1-1 with FC Midtjylland.

During Silkeborg's second stint in the second division (2016/17 and 2017/18), the former Danish youth international was often shuttling between the substitutes' bench and the pitch, but he established himself as an important attacking force in his final season.

In January 2018, Denmark's record champions, FC Kopenhagen, seized the opportunity and signed the up-and-coming talent. A first year with 18 appearances and one goal followed his breakthrough as a regular and key player on the right wing. With a total of 29 goals in the regular season and the subsequent championship round, Robert shot the capital city club to their next title, as top scorer in the Superliga.

The 14-time international then made his next big step at the start of the following season, moving to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, where his qualities have shone over 126 games. Now deployed more defensively and primarily on the left, he scored twelve goals in five years at TSG and provided the assist for a further 24 goals.

Three facts about Robert:

• Robert has already scored four hat-tricks in his career.
• As a teenager, he often travelled to Germany with friends to watch Bundesliga matches.
• He saw the only red card of his career against Union, following a last-ditch tackle in Union’s 3-1 win in the 2020/21 season.

Comments on the transfer:

“I already know Union very well from the last few years in the Bundesliga,” said an optimistic Skov on his move to the German capital. “I've heard a lot of good things about the club and the people and I'm now happy to be a part of it. We have a tough season ahead of us in which everyone has to give their all. I'm looking forward to it.”

“Robert is an interesting and above all flexible player,” was Union’s director of men’s professional football, Horst Heldt’s, assessment of the Dane. “You don't often see his technical ability either. His advantage is also that he already knows the league and can therefore hopefully help us quickly. We're delighted that he's now part of the team.”