St. Louis CITY SC announced on Tuesday the signing of midfielder Marcel Hartel as a Designated Player. Hartel’s contract runs through June 2028 with an option for the remainder of the year. To secure his services, St. Louis paid the Columbus Crew $350,000 in General Allocation Money for his Discovery Rights.
The 28-year-old midfielder arrives from FC St. Pauli, where his impressive tally of 17 goals and 13 assists in 33 matches helped the club earn promotion to the German Bundesliga. Hartel has also played for notable German clubs such as 1. FC Köln, Union Berlin, and Arminia Bielefeld.
“We are delighted to finalize this deal and welcome Marcel to St. Louis,” said sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel in a statement. “His ability to both create chances and score goals adds a significant dimension to our attacking capabilities.”
Hartel becomes St. Louis’ third international signing this summer, joining defender/midfielder Jake Girdwood-Reich from Sydney FC and attacking midfielder Cedric Teuchert from Hannover 96 in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga. All three players will be eligible to debut once the MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens on July 18.
Coming soon to the North End 🇩🇪
STL, meet your new German midfielder Marcel Hartel! #AllForCITY pic.twitter.com/P87HHf6YWR
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) July 2, 2024
“As a club, we have always been willing to invest in players who can enhance the quality of our squad,” stated club president and general manager Diego Gigliani. “Marcel’s arrival as one of our Designated Players underscores our belief in his abilities, both on and off the field. We are confident he will make a significant positive impact on our team, showcasing why top-tier players in their prime are choosing MLS as their destination.”
St. Louis CITY SC has faced challenges in replicating their impressive debut season in 2023, where they topped the Western Conference and set expansion team records. Currently sitting 12th in the Western standings and outside the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs positions, the club recently parted ways with head coach Bradley Carnell on Monday.
New number, new surroundings 🤩 pic.twitter.com/DhfLfiiWAI
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) July 2, 2024