Violet borrows Dikene Salifu from Werder Bremen

Power pack for Peter Pacult and the Austrian team Klagenfurt! The Violets are strengthening themselves for the remainder of the 2024/25 season with Dikeni Salifu. The 21-year-old Togo international is on loan to the Carinthian capital from German club SV Werder Bremen and started training immediately on Monday morning. On Tuesday (7 p.m., live on ÖFB TV) the Waidmannsdorfers play in the second round of the Austrian Cup against third division club ASV Siegendorf.

“With Dikeni Salifu, we are getting a hungry and ambitious player who wants to use this stage to take the next development step in his career. He is well trained technically and tactically, as well as being physically strong and flexible. We are firmly convinced that the boy will bring us a lot of joy,” says Sport managing director Gunther Gorenzel.

“We would like to thank the people at Werder Bremen, who have embraced us so that the transfer could be carried out economically. We have been able to sign a player who will certainly enrich us on a sporting level and give our team more depth,” confirms managing director Per Jaeckel.

Salifou completed his preparations with Werder's professionals under coach Uli Werner, was part of the squad at the training camp in Zillertal and was even in the starting line-up in the friendlies against US Lecce, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City. The 1.91m giant feels comfortable in central midfield, in the half-back positions and also in central defence.

Klagenfurt's tenth summer signing was born in Munich, played in the youth ranks of TSV 1860 and then moved to the FC Augsburg academy before signing his first professional contract at Bremen in the summer of 2022. After a year at Juventus Turin (Next Generation), Salifou now wants to start in Austria and prove his qualities.

In February 2023, the versatile defensive player made his Bundesliga debut for SV Werder when he came on as a substitute against VfB Stuttgart. In addition, there are 26 matches in the Bundesliga, 13 matches in the Regionalliga and 34 matches in Serie A. At the end of March, Salifou made his international debut for Togo against Niger (2-1).

“I am very happy that the change has been successful. The Austrian authorities have made it clear to me what role I have to play and I will do everything I can to ensure that we achieve our goals together. Klagenfurt is a great address in Austrian football and I am looking forward to the challenges in a strong and balanced league,” says Salifu.

Will the 10th summer addition to the Violets be part of the squad on Tuesday (7 p.m., live ÖFB TV) in the second round of the Austrian Cup against third division ASV Siegendorf? Open! Head coach Bakolt will only make the decision and announce the squad after the final training session. Saturday (5 p.m.) against Blau-Weiß Linz should be the latest.