St. Louis City SC signs German attacking midfielder Marcel Hartel

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis City SC is adding more attacking help to an offense that is struggling to score goals this MLS campaign.

City SC, whose 1.4 goals a game is among the bottom third of the league, was already set to add help offensively when the MLS Summer Transfer Window opens on July 18, with German forward Cedric Teuchert set to join the club.

Now they are set to add even more help, with City SC officially adding German attacking midfielder Marcel Hartel.

City says Hartel has signed a deal that runs until June 2028 with a club option for the remainder of 2028. Hartel will be one of City SC’s three Designated Players and hold an international roster spot. Like Teuchert, Hartel will officially be available to play in matches beginning July 18.

"We are happy to have locked this deal down to bring in a high caliber midfielder such as Marcel to St. Louis," said Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel. "His ability to create and finish will give us a dual threat to help lift our attack."

Hartel spent the past season with FC St. Pauli in Germany and he was instrumental in helping the club get promoted to the Bundesliga this past season, having 36 combined goal contribution in the 2. Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, with 21 of them being goals.

Hartel's contract with St. Pauli expired at the end of June, making his transfer to St. Louis City SC a free transfer.

The move to City SC will reunite Hartel with City SC centre-back Joakim Nilsson, who played with Hartel at Arminia Bielefeld in Germany from 2019-2021.