Hertha bring Brooks home: “I want to give something back.”

German second division side Hertha BSC confirmed the capture of German-American defender John Anthony Brooks on a free transfer on Thursday morning.

Thirty-one-year-old center back John Anthony Brooks is headed home. After his previous club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim allowed his expiring contract to lapse this summer, Hertha BSC have signed the 45-times-capped USMNT international on a free transfer. Brooks returns to his old academy club following seven seasons spent playing for VfL Wolfsburg, SL Benfica, and (most recently) the Sinsheimers.

“I’m happy to be able to play for Hertha again and follow the Berlin path,” Brooks noted in a club statement, “This is where I became a professional and an international and I have many good memories of the club. Now I want to give something back and help achieve our goals.”

“John is a Hertha man. He’s a Berliner and comes from our academy,” sporting director Benjamin Weber added “He has gained an enormous amount of extraordinary experience in his career and will now help us in particular with his heading, tackling skills, and his leadership qualities.”