Overview
- VfL Bochum announced Tuesday that they have signed 26-year-old Michael Steinwender from Heart of Midlothian on a contract running to 30 June 2029.
- The club gave Steinwender the number 15 shirt and media outlets report the transfer fee was in the mid six-figure range.
- Sporting director Simon Zoller described Steinwender as a modern, 1.90 m centre-back who is expected to take on responsibility and leadership roles at Bochum.
- The move is part of a wider summer defensive rebuild ahead of training resuming on 25 June, joining recent arrivals including Yiğit Karademir and Philipp Strompf.
- Steinwender is an Austrian ex-youth international who played 35 matches for Hearts last season and brings positional versatility that fits Bochum’s budget-driven recruitment strategy.