FC St. Pauli

Ritzka came through the youth ranks at Hannover 96 before moving to Verl in 2019, for whom he made a total of 65 third and fourth division appearances. He has made 35 first-team appearances for the Boys in Brown to date (one goal, one assist), including 11 starts so far this season.

Reaction to the deal:   

Director of sport Andreas Bornemann: "Lars has made excellent progress in the two-and-a-half years he’s been here. He wasn't in the public eye for a long time, but we were always aware of his qualities and his value of the team. That he's now a regular fixture of the team is down to his tenacity, which is why we're delighted to have him with us beyond the current season."

Head coach Fabian Hürzeler: "Lars is a totally dependable member of the squad. He has an exceptional work ethic and has developed really well in his time with us, especially on the ball. It's nice to know he's remaining a part of the team."

Lars Ritzka: "My work at FC St. Pauli isn't done and I'm really happy about the trust the club has placed in me. I feel very much at home in the city and at the club and have perfect conditions here for continuing my personal development of recent years."

Photos: FC St. Pauli/Witters