San Jose signs Danny Hoesen, Florian Jungwirth using TAM funds

The San Jose Earthquakes announced Thursday the club has signed German defender Florian Jungwirth from Darmstadt while also bringing in Dutch forward Danny Hoesen on a season-long loan from FC Groningen with an option to purchase at the end of the year.

Both players were acquired using Targeted Allocation Money.

Hoesen, 26, joins the club having tallied 15 goals and five assists in 72 fixtures with Groningen, with Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli describing him as a player who gives the team "a strong frame that is tall, but also has a fast pace."

"He can attack the space in counterattack situations," Fioranelli added. "He can also work in tandem with whichever striker will be supporting him. He’s a player that comes from very attack-minded football in Holland and will be the perfect striker to give us an additional element in the box that we may have been missing."

As for Jungwirth, the 28-year-old is capable of playing both as a full-back, center-back, or defensive midfielder and has played for Darmstadt, VfL Bochum, and 1860 Munich in his club career. He also played in various German national youth teams but has not featured for the senior side.

"Florian is capable of playing all defensive positions," Fioranelli said. "He grew up as a central defender, on both the right and the left. He was later moved to defensive midfield because he is a player that has a strong presence and is very logical and careful when it comes to possession and build-up situations.

"He is a player that has a lot of heart and has been very much liked on every team that he's played for because he will fight for his teammates and is a natural leader."