He captained under Kompany: meet HSV’s new signing Lokonga! | OneFootball

Two days after his move to HSV, Albert Sambi Lokonga has spoken publicly for the first time. The 25-year-old has a special connection to former Rothosen Vincent Kompany.

He is expected to provide the necessary creative impulses in central midfield: Albert Sambi Lokonga moved to the Elbe on Deadline Day from English runners-up FC Arsenal, bringing with him a wealth of international experience. The Belgian has already played in his home country for RSC Anderlecht, in the Premier League, and most recently on loan in Spain.

Lokonga is therefore a real linguist: He speaks five languages fluently – French, English, Dutch, Lingala, and Spanish. The fact that Fabio Vieira, an old companion from Arsenal, has also landed in Hamburg, makes his start easier. "Fabio is not only a great player, but also a familiar face for me," Lokonga explained on Wednesday afternoon in a media round. "At first, I didn't even know that he was also moving here. I only found out about this after my arrival in Claus Costa's office."

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Lokonga looks forward to reunion with Kompany

Right at his debut training, captain Yussuf Poulsen took the newcomer under his wing. Coach Merlin Polzin also had intensive talks with him. "I was impressed by how accurately they analyzed my style of play. That convinced me," emphasizes the two-time A-national player.

On the pitch, Lokonga is versatile and can play all positions in central midfield. He received most of his football training under star coach Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. "I learned a lot from him. He is one of the best coaches in the world," Lokonga raves.

Particularly spicy: He is likely to make his Bundesliga debut against FC Bayern (13.09, 6.30 pm). There he will meet his former coach and promoter Vincent Kompany. The former HSV professional, who has been on the sidelines in Munich since 2024, made Lokonga captain of RSC Anderlecht at the age of 21. "Vincent has always placed great trust in me. It will be nice to see him again," Lokonga is looking forward to it.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.