Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenburg are both reporting that Bundesliga side Hoffenheim have secured the services of former **West Ham** full back, and Czech international Vladimír Coufal.
Coufal, 32, arrives in Germany after a five-year stint with West Ham United, where he made 180 appearances. His contract with the Hammers expired at the end of June, and he became a free agent.
Reports confirm that Coufal has successfully completed his medical were confirmed when he appeared in Hoffenheim’s press reveal. He will join the club as a replacement for the injured Valentin Gendrey and is expected to slot straight into their first team.
Premier League sides, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and [Everton](https://www.claretandhugh.info/everton-football-club-bio/) were linked with Coufal, yet it appears that Hoffenheim have beaten them in closing a deal for the veteran defender.
Hoffenheim endured a turbulent Bundesliga campaign last season, finishing just above the relegation playoff zone and conceded 68 goals in 34 matches.
Everyone at [C&H](https://www.claretandhugh.info/category/news/) wishes the player all the best for the next stage in his career. Hopefully in the not too distant future, Hammers fans will see another Coufal in a West Ham shirt, as his son Niclas signed for the West Ham Academy earlier this year.