Split
The first newcomer for Eintracht for the new season is almost fixed: defender William Pacho comes from Royal Antwerp.
Frankfurt – Eintracht Frankfurt has almost certainly bagged the first new signing for the coming season. Central defender William Pacho comes from the Belgian first division club Royal Antwerpen. There are only formalities to be clarified. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian will initially cost the Hessian Bundesliga club around nine million euros. The base amount will be followed by bonus payments to the Belgian club if certain parameters are met. Success or performance-related models of this kind have long been common practice.
Antwerp had initially estimated 15 million euros for the player originally tied until 2026. But the Frankfurt sports director Markus Krösche was able to lower the price – also because he was able to reach an agreement with Pacho long ago and he has also submitted his urgent change request to the Royal club management. If someone absolutely doesn’t want to work anymore and has already found a new destination, it’s difficult for the old employer to convince them to stay.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Pacho is considered Ndicka’s successor
Pacho, 1.87 meters tall, is left-footed and is considered Eintracht’s successor to Evan Ndicka, who is likely to leave the club. As the FR has already reported, the Ndicka management has not cut a good figure on the player market and has upset some top clubs with the sometimes outrageous demands, but the Frenchman’s whereabouts are still considered unlikely. The 23-year-old can leave the club free of charge in the summer.
Whether Pacho can fill the gap remains to be seen. Because Ndicka leaves no small footsteps, even if this season is not his best in Frankfurt dress. But the Ecuadorian, who was allowed to represent his home country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but did not play, has a lot to bring to the well-respected Ndicka. Pacho is tall, robust, good in tackles, he can rely on good basic speed and a solid header game, is considered a mental player, i.e. someone who doesn’t give up or lets himself down, but always gives everything for his team. With this attitude, the defender fits in perfectly with Eintracht, whose managers attach great importance to attitude and the will to assert themselves.
William Pacho came to Belgium from his hometown club Independiente del Valle for around three million euros just a year ago and hit the ground running there. He is one of the top central defenders in the Jupiler Pro League this season. (Ingo Durstwitz)
