"I want to give something back" - U.S. international John Brooks returns to Hertha Berlin as free agent

John Brooks has returned to 2. Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin after his contract expired this summer from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. The 45-time capped American defender returns after seven seasons away with Wolfsburg, Benfica, and, most recently, Die Kraichgauer.

Brooks played for the German side from 2011-2017, where he amassed 130 Bundesliga appearances, scoring eight goals.

Brooks shared he has unfinished business with the club, and is hopeful that his return will allow him to repay them for the opportunities early on in his career.
“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.”
Club Sporting Director Benjamin Weber, meanwhile, is ecstatic to see him return to the club to bolster their aim for promotion to the German Bundesliga this upcoming season.
“John is a Hertha man. He's a Berliner and comes from our academy,” Weber said. “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.”

Brooks has not appeared for the USMNT since 2021, despite having strong campaigns in the Bundesliga in recent seasons.
At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brooks was dubbed an American hero for his stupendous header against Ghana in the tournament.

Hertha Berlin's 2024-25 campaign is underway, with three matches played. They sit 11th in the 2. Bundesliga, with four points during that stretch. Brooks will look to make his second club debut against Kaiserslautern on Saturday.