“There were never any discussions about a contract extension”: This is what FCSG bosses say about Captain Hefti’s departure

Past: Silvan Hefti in the FC St. Gallen jersey.

Image: Freshfocus / Daniela Frutiger

“From my point of view, it was not operational today”: So Peter Zeidler, FC St. Gallen coach, said after last Saturday’s test match against SC Freiburg about Silvan Hefti’s staff. The captain was on the team against ex-Espe Ermedin Demirovic’s new club, but he was the only outfield player who was not used. This fact intensified the rumors about the departure of Heftis: the one traded over the weekend was, in particular, a transfer to the champions and winners of the YB cup.

Now it’s safe: Silvan Hefti will leave FC St. Gallen five years after his debut for Team Fanion. He will be moving to the Bern Young Boys for four years.

Hüppi: “He saw his way at FCSG as finished”

Matthias Hüppi, President of FCSG.

Image: Urs Bucher

“Of course we would have liked to stay with Silvan and continue planning with him. However, the player has expressed the wish to be allowed to leave the club because he saw his path at FC St. Gallen finished and wants to take the next step in his career with this change to the championship ”: this is stated by the president of the FCSG, Matthias Hüppi quotes in the statement from the Eastern Swiss.

“Even if it was difficult for us, we finally decided to comply with Silvan’s request.”

Matthias Hüppi also explained to the newspaper that Silvan Hefti had pointed out to those responsible that the cycle at the FCSG had ended for him. Hüppi, as well as sporting director Alain Sutter and coach Peter Zeidler were aware, according to the president, that they would be at a financial disadvantage as soon as an established club with other options emerged. “We are still a training association, but not an instant water heater,” says Hüppi.

Sutter: “There was no room for improvement”

For his part, sports director Alain Sutter says discussions about a contract extension never took place. “Hefti was at the top of our salary structure. There was no room for improvement, so it was hardly possible to extend the contract. ”Furthermore, Hefti kept saying that he wanted to leave sooner or later.

Alain Sutter, FCSG sports director.

Image: Keystone

For those responsible for FC St. Gallen, it was surprising after his remarks that Silvan Hefti is now leaving eastern Switzerland for Bern instead of abroad. Alain Sutter continues:

«We need guys who are convinced of what we are doing here. Apparently, financially and in sporting terms, we are still not in a position to keep our best players, as YB or FC Basel do. “

Bern sees great potential in Hefti

The two clubs agreed not to disclose the transfer fee of the defender, who still had a contract with the FCSG until the summer of 2021.

For their part, in their statement, the Bernese express their joy at having managed to sign Silvan Hefti as Saidy Janko’s successor for the next four years. YB Sporting Director Christoph Spycher notes:

“We are very happy that Silvan Hefti has chosen YB. With his mindset and his will, he is a perfect fit for our team and will help us stay very hungry. “

Christoph Spycher, YB sports director.

Image: Keystone

Hefti has great potential and has already made a clear mark in the Super League.

Silvan Hefti, for his part, said in the Bern communication: “I am very happy to be able to take the next steps in my development with the Young Boys. I am excited to play with YB nationally and internationally and would like to help the club continue to be very successful. At the same time, I would like to thank FC St.Gallen for the wonderful past years. “

He became a captain at the age of 20.

Silvan Hefti joined the FC St. Gallen offspring in 2009 as a junior. He first played for the Eastern Swiss Super League team on September 12, 2015 in a 2-1 loss to FC Basel. This has now risen to 155 games in the Swiss top league, in which Hefti scored four goals. In 2018, FCSG coach Peter Zeidler made Hefti captain at the age of 20.

Image: Michel Canonica (St. Gallen, November 24, 2019)

Since the U-15, the native Goldacher has also passed through all the age groups of the Swiss national team.

After two attackers Cedric Itten and Ermedin Demirovic, Silvan Hefti is the third top-tier player to leave FC St. Gallen this summer.