Club Reaches Agreement Following Hartel's Request to Return to Germany for Personal Reasons
St. Louis CITY SC has transferred German midfielder Marcel Hartel to Hannover 96 of the 2. Bundesliga on undisclosed terms.
“Marcel has been a central part of our team and has made so many important contributions to the club, especially in his first few months and again this season,” said Sporting Director Corey Wray. “While we would have preferred for Marcel to remain with us and explored different options to keep him in St. Louis, we ultimately chose to respect the circumstances surrounding his decision and his desire to prioritize his personal situation. We appreciate everything Marcel has given to the club and wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”
This transfer provides CITY SC with additional roster flexibility as it frees up one of the club's designated player spots.
"We know the importance of continuing to improve this team, and our supporters should know we are pursuing opportunities to add attacking quality as we look to continue to build on the team's recent success on the pitch,” added Wray.
Signed as a free agent in the summer of 2024, Hartel made an immediate impact for St. Louis, recording 12 goal contributions (five goals, seven assists) in 13 matches across all competitions in 2024, roughly one per game.
Hartel followed up his debut campaign with 17 goal contributions (10 goals, seven assists) in 35 appearances across all competitions in 2025, or one every two games. This season so far, he has contributed 10 goal contributions (six goals, four assists) in 16 MLS appearances before departing the club. Hartel leaves St. Louis with 24 goals and 18 assists in 67 appearances across all competitions.
“Making this decision has been very difficult because my time in St. Louis has meant so much to me,” said Hartel. “From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed by my teammates, the staff, the supporters and the entire community. This was a very difficult decision that I felt I had to make for my family with what is going on in our personal lives. I know it wasn’t easy, but I want to thank everyone at the club for understanding my request to return to Germany and for supporting me throughout this process. I wish my teammates and everyone at the club nothing but success for the rest of the season and beyond.”
St. Louis CITY SC is currently seventh in the Western Conference standings with 26 points and will travel to face San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park this Saturday, August 15.
