Overview

• The deal carries an initial €4.75 million fee with up to €1 million in easily achievable performance bonuses, raising Hoffenheim’s summer defensive spend to nearly €13 million.
• Machida featured 114 times for Union Saint-Gilloise, anchoring their championship-winning defence and boosting his market value from €850,000 to €11 million.
• Sports director Andreas Schicker praised the Japanese international’s uncompromising tackling, aerial dominance and precise ball distribution.
• The 27-year-old joins a competitive centre-back group that now totals nine players under coach Christian Ilzer’s preferred 4-4-2 formation.
• Machida said he is eager to begin his Bundesliga career and contribute to Hoffenheim’s success.