The SG Flensburg-Handewitt and home-grown talent Thilo Knutzen are continuing their cooperation: the backcourt player has extended his contract for another two years. In order to gain additional playing time, he will be loaned out to HK Malmö.
With Thilo Knutzen, the SG has tied down a real Flensburg talent for the long term. The 2.13-meter tall backcourt player transferred from TSV Hürup to the Flensburg Academy, where he played in all of the youth teams and attracted particular attention with his creativity and agility. After his time in the youth academy, his path led him to cooperation partner DHK Flensborg, for whom he currently plays in the 3rd division. At the same time, Knutzen is a regular member of the SG professional squad and made 21 appearances and scored 20 goals in the 2025/26 season.
Thilo Knutzen was particularly impressive in the first leg of the EHF play-offs against top Danish club SAH Aarhus: with six goals in the final 15 minutes, he played a key role in the North Germans' success.
"Thilo is a real Flensburg native. We have supported him for many years and he has developed very well during this time. We are all the more pleased that he has extended his contract and that we are continuing our journey together," said SG Managing Director Holger Glandorf.
In order to further his development, both parties have decided to extend the contract and loan Knutzen to the Swedish first division club HK Malmö.
"By loaning him to Malmö, we are creating the ideal conditions for him to gain even more match practice at a high level and to develop both athletically and personally," added Glandorf.
For Peter Stotz, Managing Director of DHK Flensborg, the loan to Sweden is also the next logical step in his development: "This cooperation has now been in place for four years. Thilo has been part of it from the very beginning as a youth player in the Flensburg Academy with dual playing rights. Now he is taking the next step as a professional - and we are proud that he has put his trust in our project. In Malmö, he has the best conditions to continue his sporting development. It is all the more wonderful and important that the SG continues to rely on him."
Knutzen's new club HK Malmö is looking forward to working with the young backcourt player. "We had very positive and constructive talks with Ljubomir Vranjes and the SG Flensburg-Handewitt, which made this solution possible. It is a collaboration that benefits all sides and in which we see great potential," says Jörgen Rasmusson, chairman of the Swedish club.
Malmö coach Zoran Roganovic adds: "Thilo is a player of high quality. He is technically strong, has a good understanding of the game and brings a pace that suits us. Above all, he has a great desire to develop further - that's exactly the kind of player we want to promote."
This is the young Flensburg native's first stop outside the city: "I'm delighted that I've been able to extend my contract with the SG for another two years. It's something very special to gain your first professional experience at your youth club. The move to Malmö is exactly the right thing for me to develop as a player, but also as a person. HK Malmö is a club with clear ambitions and a strong development environment. I'm looking forward to taking on responsibility there and at the same time staying in the SG environment," says Thilo Knutzen.