Confirmed: Schmidt receives extended loan-out

German youth international Kenneth's Schmidt's loan-out to Hannover 96 has been officially confirmed. 

Kenneth Schmidt.

Hannover 96

The rumored loan-out of SC Freiburg defender Kenneth Schmidt to Hannover 96 is through. The 22-year-old is one of three prospects the Breisgau-based club are hoping to park elsewhere during the current January transfer window. Schmidt's loan was confirmed first on New Year's Day. 

As reported earlier, Schmidt's loan stint will last 18 months. The four-times-capped Germany U21 international shall work under the newly installed coaching regime of André Breitenreiter in Lower Saxony. Schmidt - returning from a long-term injury - made five appearances for the Freiburg reserves this year. 

Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach spoke of Schmidt's "great potential" in a club-released statement confirming the move. Hartenbach's H96 counterpart Marcus Mann noted that the second division side had been hoping to acquire the youngster for "quite some time". 

“I'm very happy that the transfer to Hannover 96 has been completed," the player himself added. "Because I'm convinced that it's the right club for me to take my next steps.”