Mesut Kesik signs professional deal with Hertha

In a recent interview, Mesut Kesik spoke of one day wanting to play with the first team. Now he is a step closer to making that dream a reality, with the 18-year-old having signed his first ever professional contract with Hertha BSC on Monday, starting in the summer and keeping him at the Old Lady until 2025. “Mesut is the captain for our U19s and has undergone a very positive development both on and off the pitch in recent years. Now the time has come for us to take the next step together from the summer. He fully deserves this – we have complete belief in him and his ability,” said managing director for sport Fredi Bobic. The young midfielder couldn’t be prouder to have put pen to paper on his first pro deal: “I’m over the moon to have signed my first professional contract at Hertha BSC as a Berliner. I’m very excited and incredibly motivated for the new chapter ahead. Until then, my full focus is with the U19s, where we’re hoping to achieve something special this season,” said the right-footer, whose side are unbeaten at the top of the U19 Bundesliga Nord/Nordost.

Experience at youth level for Germany

Kesik joined the Hertha academy from 1. FC Union in summer 2018. After two seasons in the U17 Bundesliga Nord/Nordost (27 appearances, 5 goals, 2 assists), he made the step up to the U19s squad for the 2020/21 season. He has featured eleven times so far in this campaign, scoring three goals and providing four assists. The central midfielder has also gained some experience at reserve level, playing four times for the U23s in the Regionalliga Nordost. The U19s captain has caught the eye of the DFB too, having been initially called up at U16 level by Germany. He is now a regular fixture in his nation’s U19s squad and is set to take part in the elite qualifying round for the U19 EUROs in March.