SG Flensburg-Handewitt has secured the services of one of its most promising young talents. Pivot Moritz Detlefsen has signed his first professional contract with the club, taking the next major step in his still-young career.
For the 18-year-old, this marks the fulfillment of a childhood dream. The Flensburg native used to stand in the north stands of the GP JOULE Arena as a young boy, cheering on the SG; now he himself is part of the SG’s professional team for at least two years. Detlefsen took his first steps in handball at TSV Hürup before moving to the SG’s youth department to join the D-youth team. Since then, he has progressed through all the training levels of the SG Flensburg Academy.
The biggest success of his still-young career so far—winning the U17 World Championship with the German national team last October—is now followed by the next highlight: his first professional contract.
Holger Glandorf, managing director of SG Flensburg-Handewitt, says of the young talent: “Moritz is a prime example of the path we want to take with our youth development. He’s from the region, identifies one hundred percent with the SG, and has earned his development through hard work, passion, and talent. We’re very happy that he’s continuing his journey with us and are convinced of his potential.”
For Moritz Detlefsen, this is the next step in his still-young career and an incredibly special moment: “I grew up in Flensburg; as a child, I stood in the north stands cheering on the SG. The fact that I now get to sign my first professional contract with this very club means a great deal to me. The U17 World Championship has been the biggest experience of my career so far, but this contract represents a dream I’ve had since I was a child. I want to use the coming period to develop further, learn a lot, and get closer to the Bundesliga step by step.”
“Moritz brings many qualities that are important for a modern pivot. He works very professionally, is eager to learn, and has great potential for development. It’s important to give young players prospects. Through the academy, the DHK, and his first experiences in the professional ranks, we’re creating optimal conditions for him to continue developing,” said SG head coach Aleš Pajović.
In the coming season, Detlefsen will continue to play for the SG Flensburg-Handewitt U19 team, where he will complete his final year in the youth program. At the same time, he is set to gain valuable playing experience in the 3rd Division with our partner club DHK Flensborg and be gradually integrated into the professional squad. For the 18-year-old, this marks the beginning of a new chapter at the very club where he used to stand in the North Stand as a young boy.
“Moritz has been part of our academy for many years and has continued to develop. He has embraced every challenge and has grown tremendously both as an athlete and as a person. Signing this contract is a wonderful recognition of his dedication, but also of the work done in our youth department. We look forward to continuing to support him closely in his final year of the U19 team. The path we’ve taken with the cooperation between the SG pros, DHK, and the academy is now bearing fruit and offers young players like Moritz a top-notch environment to continue developing even as they transition to the next level,” said Johann Volquardsen, Managing Director of the SG Academy.
Peter Stotz, Managing Director of DHK Flensborg, adds: “We’re excited to have Moritz and are proud to present a national team player from the region at DHK. The structures created through this partnership are a perfect fit for Moritz’s profile. This way, we can work together to retain and further develop talent.”