Former Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has been labelled the “biggest bargain in the league” in Germany after a low-cost summer move that has quickly turned into one of the standout stories of Hamburg’s season.
The 26-year-old scored again at the weekend, equalising in HSV’s 3-2 derby win over Werder Bremen to take his tally to three league goals.
That return leaves Lokonga joint-top scorer at the club alongside Rayan Philippe, an unlikely position for a defensive midfielder signed primarily to help the defence.
HSV head coach Merlin Polzin said: “Sambi is a professional who manages to read and feel the game and set the rhythm. We managed to keep him constantly fit. How he always manages to occupy and play the right rooms is worthy of all honour.“
Hamburg paid just €300,000 for Lokonga, who is under contract until 2028. Among all non-free transfers this season, no other player with three league goals has been signed for such a low fee, a statistic that has fuelled the “bargain” label in Germany.
Lokonga joined Arsenal from Anderlecht for €17.5m in 2021 but struggled to establish himself consistently. Loan spells at Crystal Palace, Luton Town and Sevilla followed, with the midfielder keen to secure a permanent move rather than face another temporary deal.
HSV sporting director Claus Costa had tracked Lokonga as far back as 2018 during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and retained an interest throughout the player’s Premier League years. When the chance finally arose this summer, Hamburg acted quickly, backed by years of scouting work.
For Lokonga, the move has delivered the stability he had been seeking. For HSV, it has produced a midfielder in form, goals from deep, and a signing now being talked about across the league as the best value deal of the season.