Leeds United‘s Sebastiaan Bornauw says he feels comfortable in Germany after the Premier League side let him join Hamburg SV on loan in the summer window.
The centre-back went out on loan after enduring a difficult period at Elland Road.
Leeds United signed him from VfL Wolfsburg in July 2025 and waited until last December to make his league debut. He finished his first season with 771 minutes from 17 matches, with five league starts.
The 27-year-old’s decision to join the Bundesliga side has worked out so far, at least with the playing time. He played 450 minutes from five matches and missed two league ties because of an injury.
Leeds United loan exit working out
In August, the Belgian said he didn’t think twice about leaving Daniel Farke’s side. Last month, the defender explained he had to fight hard to secure a loan move to Germany.
He said: “I fought hard at Leeds United to come to Hamburg. I really wanted to play for HSV. There’s an abundance of tradition here, and I like that.”
Last season, Luka Vušković was one of the centre-backs at the German club. He was on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, who sold him to Brighton & Hove Albion. Sebastiaan Bornauw still has time to match or even surpass Luka Vušković’s contribution at Hamburg.
Off the pitch, he’s enjoying life in Germany and made it clear during an interview with Bild. He used to travel to Hamburg regularly during his four-year spell at VfL Wolfsburg.
“Hamburg is probably the best city in Europe to live in. If only the weather were better. The people are very friendly, the buildings are beautiful, everything here is green. I love going to the Alster lake or strolling through a park. I feel very comfortable here,” he said.
🙁 Ronaldo Vieira emotional about Leeds United exit
💬 “I was scared and sad, because I felt part of the project. I left the stadium with my family, got in the car, and went for a drive alone to think.”
💬 “My agent explained to me that I wasn’t obligated to accept. I thought about it and said, ‘If it helps Leeds, I’ll do it.’”https://t.co/RKmVxtouik #lufc #mot
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) October 23, 2026
Leeds United man on form and HSV legend
After losing the first three league ties, Hamburg won their last three league matches in a row. The Whites man doesn’t want to get carried away ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
“We all always believed in ourselves because we know we have quality. Besides, we had a lot of new players in the team at the beginning and first had to gel,” Sebastiaan Bornauw explained.
“We need to generate the same energy we showed against Stuttgart to be successful. Paderborn has excellent movement, runs tirelessly, and possesses a strong team spirit.”
Daniel van Buyten, the Belgian’s compatriot and former Bayern Munich star, was at HSV between 2004 and 2006. The Leeds United owned player sees him as a mentor and reveals about the discussion with Van Buyten.
“I’m in close contact with him. My father had dinner with him on Tuesday. Back then, Daniel was a real machine on the pitch. Off the field, he’s a pleasant and good guy,” he concluded.
“There aren’t many people who have had such a successful career and yet remained so down-to-earth and humble. I learned from him what kind of attitude you have to have every single day. Impressive. He’s a real beast with a fantastic physique that he worked on every single day – a model professional.”
Hamburg have secured a purchase option with the Elland Road. If Bornauw were to shine this season, it will improve his chances of securing a permanent move.
