Heidenheim sign second division’s top striker

Heidenheim have signed the 2. Bundesliga’s leading scorer. 

Karlsruher SC striker Budu Zivzivadze is moving to the German top division. FC Heidenheim confirmed the signing of the 30-year-old Georgian international of Friday afternoon. Zivzivadze leads the German second division in scoring with 12 goals through 17 match-days. Overall, the KSC attacker has netted 25 goals in 57 2. Bundesliga appearances. Karlsruhe are in second place in the table thanks to his efforts. 

Terms of the transfer were not divulged. The Baden-based club paid only €150,000 to acquire Zivzivadze from Hungary’s Fehérvár FC two Januarys ago. Since arriving in the Fächerstadt, the 34-times-capped international has pumped his estimated market worth up to €1.5 million. Heidenheim – struggling mightily in attack since Tim Kleindienst’s departure – have scored a major coup. 

“We have been watching Budu Zivzivadze’s development at Karlsruher SC very closely for quite some time,” FCH executive Holger Sanwald noted in a club statement. “He was already an absolute top performer there last season and then improved even further in the current first half of the season. We are thus convinced that he can immediately help our team in the fight to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.” 

“The people in charge at 1. FC Heidenheim have worked hard to recruit me,” the player himself added, “That’s why I really wanted to take this chance to play in the Bundesliga right away. I now want to do my part to help FCH avoid relegation at the end of the season and I’m really looking forward the league starting again.”

Zivzivadze’s new deal runs through 2029.