USMNT midfielder Lennard Maloney has joined Mainz from Bundesliga rivals Heidenheim.
Maloney, 25, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at the club through to the summer of 2028.
The defensive midfielder spent two-and-a-half seasons at Heidenheim and was part of the side that won promotion to the top flight of German football at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Maloney represented Germany at youth level before switching allegiances to the United States in 2018.
He was given his senior USMNT debut by former head coach Gregg Berhalter in 2020. He has won two caps for USMNT, with his most recent appearance coming in the CONCACAF Nations League defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in November 2023.
“Mainz 05 are a great fit for me, from the style of play to their overall set-up,” said Maloney.
“Sometimes, all it takes is one meeting with the sporting management and the head coach to know that you will get on well with each other.
“That was definitely the case here — I had a good feeling right from the start. Now I’m looking forward to getting to know my new teammates, the fans and the city. I’m also excited to get to experience the Mewa Arena, a place where Mainz are tough to beat.”
Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert said: “Lennard Maloney has been able to prove himself in the Bundesliga over the last year and a half.
“His preferred position is as a number six and as a player, he’s the perfect fit for Mainz 05. He brings a strong mentality, as well as a willingness to run hard, to the table and is also strong at winning challenges and aerial duels. Lennard will find it easy to fit into our squad with his warm, open personality.”
Mainz, sixth in the Bundesliga table, are next in action against fourth-placed Stuttgart on Saturday.
(Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
