VfL Gummersbach strengthens: Kay Smits creates a spirit of optimism!

VfL Gummersbach strengthens: Kay Smits creates a spirit of optimism!

VfL Gummersbach can look back on a successful 2024/25 season, despite missing qualification for international business in the coming season. Those responsible, coach Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson and managing director Christoph Schindler, are relying on continuity and selected reinforcements in the squad planning for the 2025/26 season Handball world reported.

There will be few changes to the team next season. Departures have already been announced: The goalkeeper talent Anel Durmic will be loaned to HSG Krefeld Niederrhein, while Mario Kelentric, the goalkeeping coach, will move to Vardar Skopje. But there are also bright spots for the fans. With Joao Gomes from Sporting Lisbon and the Dutch international Kay Smits, Gummersbach has signed two well-known additions.

Transfer from Kay Smits: A real highlight

The move from Kay Smits in particular is a real transfer highlight. Smits, who previously played for SG Flensburg-Handewitt, has signed a contract until 2028. Schindler describes the backcourt player as a world-class player and is looking forward to their time together. Smits brings with him an impressive range of experience: for the last two years he was part of the team that won the EHF European League in 2024. Before that, he even won the EHF Champions League with SC Magdeburg in 2023. In that semi-final against FC Barcelona he scored twelve goals!

His future coach, Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, emphasizes the importance of Smits for the team and announces that he will be carefully integrated into the team structure. The trust of the club, the positive culture and the opportunity for a new beginning make Smits optimistic about the future. However, those responsible also remember the health challenges he previously had with inflammation of the myocardium. Schindler reassures the fans: all medical tests were successful and Smits is in the rehabilitation phase. You can feel the anticipation of the new start.

Future of the squad and other players

While Smits is full of excitement, the future of Teitur Einarsson and Giorgi Tskhovrebadze remains uncertain. Both players didn't have the best spell at the club last season, with Einarsson tied for 2026 and Tskhovrebadze tied until 2027. It remains to be seen whether and how this will affect squad planning. What remains is the unbroken optimism among those responsible in Gummersbach. They are looking forward to taking the momentum from last season with them and starting the new season with a breath of fresh air.

The anticipation for the coming season is growing, and the fans can expect interesting developments in VfL Gummersbach's squad planning.