1. FC Union Berlin have announced another new addition to their womens’ team for the upcoming 2023/24 season. Goalkeeper Sarah Hornschuch, who had already played in Köpenick from 2015 to 2018, will return in the summer. The 24-year-old was previously under contract with FC Carl Zeiss Jena.

Hornschuch moved from FFV Leipzig’s youth team to Union’s U17’s in 2014, and was promoted to the first team a year later. She quickly became a regular between the posts and was integral to Union’s immediate promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. She played every game in 2016/17, but it was a season that ultimately saw Union relegated back to the Regionalliga. After the 2017/18 season and a total of 45 competitive games in three years for Union, Hornschuch finally left the club and joined second-division club FF USV Jena.

In Jena, Hornschuch once again established herself as a regular keeper, helping them to promotion in her first season, before making her Bundesliga debut in 2019/20. Although USV Jena were relegated back to the 2. Liga that year, she will be one of the few players in the Union squad who can already look back on some significant Bundesliga experience (15 appearances).

In the summer of 2021, Hornschuch decided to spend a year abroad before returning to Jena last year. She made three appearances for FC Carl Zeiss Jena, who merged with FF USV Jena in 2020, this season.

The views on the transfer

"Returning to Union feels like coming home to me,” said an optimistic Hornschuch on her move back to the capital. “I'm looking forward to the new season and want to use my experience to help us achieve our common goals."

Jennifer Zietz, head of the women's and girls' department at Union, said meanwhile, "We were interested in Sarah before and are now happy that she is coming back to Köpenick in the summer. This gives us significantly more options than this season. Sarah brings a lot of experience with her and can contribute to the continued sporting development of the team."