FC St. Pauli

Boukhalfa, 23, spent last season on loan at fellow second-division outfit Jahn Regensburg, making a total of 33 competitive appearances, including 25 starts, and scoring four goals. The versatile midfielder learned his trade at SC Freiburg, rising through the youth ranks from 2012. At senior level he made 54 fourth-tier appearances (8 goals, 3 assists) for SC Freiburg II plus one DFB Cup outing for the first team.

Reaction to the deal: 

Director of sport Andreas Bornemann: “Carlo has a good overall package. He has a certain physique, workrate and basic aggression but also likes to get into the box, where he carries a threat on goal. He’s already demonstrated his quality at Jahn Regensburg and we’re confident he can take the next steps with us.”

Head coach Timo Schultz: “I think we can look forward to a very versatile player. Carlo can fill just about every position in our midfield and even played as a striker for Freiburg. He therefore brings a certain goal threat from midfield, something we’ve lacked a bit of late.”

Carlo Boukhalfa: “My first season in the second division helped me a lot in my development and I’d like to build on that at St. Pauli with Timo Schultz and his coaching team. The club has proven to be a very good address for young players in recent years and its active style of play fits very well with my qualities. I’m also looking forward to the Millerntor, of course, which I’ve only experienced part-full so far.”

Photos: Witters