Stanley Nsoki
FCU
CB (LWB)
Ball-Playing Centre Back
Apr 9, 1999 (27)
Left
6'0"
170 lb
Union BerlinResumes individual field work
Nsoki (calf) completed an individual session on the pitch Tuesday as he continues his recovery from a muscular injury, according to Berliner Morgenpost.
Analysis: Nsoki has been sidelined for several weeks with the calf problem, and his return to individual field work represents a positive step in his rehabilitation. However, there is still no timeline for him to resume full team training, making Friday's clash against Schalke likely to come too soon. The center-back will need to progress through the final stages of his recovery before returning to contention for Union Berlin.
Out five to six weeks
Nsoki suffered a muscle injury to his calf and is expected to be sidelined for five to six weeks, though it's unclear when that timeline began, according to Bild.
Analysis: Nsoki has been out for several weeks already and missed Union Berlin's preseason training camp in Austria, working only individually and appearing in no friendlies during that stretch. He briefly returned to the training pitch in early July before being sidelinedy. Nsoki is expected to miss the start of the campaign just months after joining Union permanently following his loan from Hoffenheim, a blow for a defense the club had hoped he would anchor. Zeno Van Den Bosch is expected to start alongside Leopold Querfeld in central defense during his absence, with a similar muscle issue having also disrupted the start of his previous season.
Sidelined with undisclosed injury
Nsoki has not featured in any of Union Berlin's preseason friendly squads due to an injury, according to Bild.
Analysis: Nsoki's exact issue and recovery timeline remain unknown at this stage, marking the second consecutive preseason in which he has been sidelined, having missed the entirety of last summer's buildup and the start of last season as well. His absence opens the door for rival center backs to press their case for playing time as new coach Mauro Lustrinelli experiments with different pairings during the friendlies. Nsoki is expected to provide further clarity on his situation once more details on the injury emerge.
Joins Union Berlin permanently
Nsoki signed permanently with Union Berlin after the club exercised the option to make his loan from Hoffenheim permanent, the club announced.
Analysis: Nsoki arrived in Berlin in late July 2025 but was initially hampered by an injury that delayed his start to the season. He made his debut in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 against Bayern Munich before making his first league start three days later at Wolfsburg, where he scored to make it 1-3 and sparked a late comeback that ultimately fell short. The 27-year-old French left-footed center-back went on to contribute to important victories against Leipzig, Leverkusen and Freiburg, accumulating 819 minutes across 14 competitive appearances with one goal and two assists as Union secured their top-flight status. His performances throughout the second half of the season convinced the club to make the move permanent heading into the new campaign.
Select Player
Search and select a player to compare