SV Darmstadt 98 have completed the signing of Dutch striker Milan Smit ahead of their 2. Bundesliga away match against Dynamo Dresden on Sunday.
Head coach Florian Kohfeldt confirmed the transfer ahead of the trip to Dresden, where the team will kick off at 1:30 p.m. Kohfeldt expressed satisfaction with the club's transfer business, noting that officials had worked for a long time to secure the forward.
The 23-year-old arrival stands 1.92 metres tall and brings considerable professional experience to Darmstadt, having recorded 58 appearances in the Dutch top-flight Eredivisie, 39 in the Dutch second division, and 13 in the English Championship. He also won a Dutch Cup title earlier in his career.
Kohfeldt described Smit as a technically clean player who possesses good spatial awareness and strong physical presence. The manager confirmed that Smit is fully fit and expected to feature in the matchday squad on Sunday, though he is likely to start on the substitute bench.
Squad overhaul and new attacking partnership
The arrival of Smit completes the restructuring of Darmstadt's attacking department following a busy summer transfer window. The club recorded 26 total squad movements in recent months, which included the departure of key forward pair Fraser Hornby and Isac Lidberg.
Hornby and Lidberg had established themselves among the most effective attacking duos in the second division during their time with the Hessian club. Darmstadt responded by signing South Korean striker Hoe-Jae Lee two weeks ago, with Lee quickly making a strong impression in his debut appearance.
Kohfeldt indicated that he plans to deploy a two-man strike partnership during the course of the season once both new forwards are fully integrated into the side. He added that the club believes Smit is ready to contribute immediately.
Performance analysis from opening match
Darmstadt enter the weekend fixture following a 2-2 draw against Holstein Kiel in their opening league game. Kohfeldt evaluated the overall performance as encouraging, stating that the squad was further along in its tactical development than he had anticipated given their limited time together.
The head coach noted that while Darmstadt maintained long periods of control, they struggled to turn possession into fast attack transitions and goal scoring opportunities. He also pointed out that the team made simple defensive errors that required correction.
Despite those flaws, Kohfeldt praised the mentality and determination shown by his players on the pitch, describing their hunger and work rate as vital qualities for winning matches in the 2. Bundesliga.
Facing Dynamo Dresden at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion
Dynamo Dresden host Sunday's fixture seeking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat against 1. FC Nürnberg in their season opener. Despite that loss, Kohfeldt rated the Saxon side highly, highlighting their commitment to building play from the back and making dynamic runs into space.
The Darmstadt manager also highlighted the atmosphere at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion in Dresden, describing the consistently sold-out venue as a major home advantage for the hosts. Kohfeldt concluded that his side faces a tough away challenge, but remains confident of building on their opening performance.
