St. Pauli sign towering forward Andréas Hountondji from Burnley
St. Pauli have added some firepower to their ranks ahead of the new Bundesliga season, acquiring striker Andréas Hountondji on loan from English Premier League side Burnley.
"I’m delighted to be at St. Pauli now and to get the opportunity to play in the Bundesliga," Hountondji said. "The talks with the director of sport and the coach were fantastic. The club has a special aura and I want to do my bit to ensure we have a successful season."
The 22-year-old Benin international has 14 caps for his country already, and arrives in northern Germany having also played in France and Belgium.
He featured nine times for Burnley in the English Championship last season, before heading out to Standard Liege in Belgium on loan, where here scored four goals in 18 appearances.
Hountondji initially caught the eye in France, coming through the ranks at SM Caen, for whom he made his professional debut in 2021, before joining Rodez AF in 2023, where he scored 16 goals in 37 games in all competitions in the 2023/24 season.
He made a total of 72 appearances in Ligue 2, France's second division, during which time he made his international debut for Benin, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Senegal in 2023.
At 6'2" (1.90m), Hountondji will certainly provide a physical presence up top for Alexander Blessin's side, although he offers much more than just height, as his new boss was keen to highlight:
"Andréas impresses with well-timed runs in behind, excellent finishing with both feet, a natural presence in the air and assertiveness on the ball. He also has important qualities off the ball. He’s aggressive and quick in transition and sees pressing situations early, which means he does an important job for the whole team."
Related news
Matchday 13 teams
Who's in and out this weekend across Germany's top flight?
Jones rescues late point for Pauli
Alexander Blessin's side salvaged a draw in Cologne thanks to Ricky-Jade Jones' stoppage-time header, which cancelled out Saïd El Mala's opener.
Which Americans are playing in Germany?
How are the likes of Gio Reyna, Joe Scally and newcomer Malik Tillman faring in the Bundesliga in 2025/26?