Ben Zich: Fortuna's goalkeeper talent before possible professional contract!

Ben Zich: Fortuna's goalkeeper talent before possible professional contract!

The regional league seems to be the right plaster for up-and-coming talents for Fortuna Düsseldorf One of these young players is the 22-year-old goalkeeper Ben Zich , who has established itself as a life insurance in the U23. His rising star shines particularly after a remarkable game against Wiedenbrück, in which he parried the penalty of Jan-Lukas Liehr despite a yellow-red card for his teammate Sima Suso and thus contributed significantly to the 2-1 victory.

Ben Zich, born on February 16, 2003 and with a size of 1.90 m, grew up in the youth of Fortuna Düsseldorf and Borussia Mönchengladbach, found its way to the first men's team. In the summer of 2023 he moved to Fortuna and received a contract until June 30, 2025. His contract with the U23 will soon expire what the responsible persons would present before decisions. There are considerations to provide him with a professional contract to tie it to the club in the long term.

climb to the regular goalkeeper

The past few months show how Zich became an important support from the U23 from a substitute. In the second half of 2023 he played eleven games and stayed in four of them without conceding a goal. These services have led to the number one in the goal after the Wiedenbrück game. This development is also influenced by the return of Robert Kwasigroch from his loan to Hertha BSC.

Florian Kastenmeier, however, is expected to be the first choice among professionals, which significantly limits Zich's opportunities to play regularly in the first team. It is therefore also discussed to borrow more for more gaming experience, which on the one hand would help him to develop further, and on the other hand, Fortuna's squad planning could face challenges.

The future of Ben Zich

The goal is clear: Fortuna Düsseldorf wants to keep Zich in the team because he has already proven to be valuable. With a player advisor from Coresport at his side, the options for the future are diverse. While the association considers the possibility of a new regional league paper to be excluded, they are faced with the question of whether a professional contract or loan would be the better way.

The exciting journey from Ben Zich continues and shows that the regional league is not only a place of the challenge, but also a springboard for talents that are ready to prove themselves.