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The speculation over Bobby Wood's future can come to a close. He's staying in Germany, but moving up a division to Hamburger SV.
Hamburg announced on their official Twitter account that the 23-year old Hawaii native has signed a four-year deal with the club.
Bobby #Wood wechselt von @fcunion an die Elbe⚓️ &unterschrieb einen 4-Jahresvertrag bis 2020. Willkommen in Hamburg! pic.twitter.com/3gCQDRabjp
— Hamburger SV (@HSV) May 15, 2016
Wood spoke to HSV.de following the signing being made official. "I am pleased that I get the chance to play at this historic club," he told the club's official website. "Germany has become my second home... It is the dream of every young player to play [at] as high [a level] as possible, and the [highest level] in Germany is the Bundesliga."
Hamburg finished the 2015-2016 season in 10th place with an 11-8-15 record.
Wood also thanked Union Berlin on the club's official website (forgive the rough Google translation):
I can only all here to thank for their support this year. Union I got a lot of trust and operating times, here I could take the next step and develop me the certainty that one needs a striker to score goals. It makes me proud to have become a part of the club's history with my goals. I wish Union all the best and will keep this time and the people here in very good memory.
The move caps a breakout season for Wood who scored 17 goals with Union Berlin in the 2. Bundesliga. His goal tally set the record for goals scored by an American in Germany, previously held by Conor Casey.
Wood began his career with 1860 Munich before moving to Union Berlin. He has 16 caps and four goals with the U.S. men's national team. Wood was named to the 40-player preliminary roster for the Copa America Centenario, and appears to be a shoo-in to make the final roster.
Wood's ascension comes at an opportune time for a U.S. national team that lately has been struggling to find a consistent goal scorer. Additionally, Jozy Altidore injured his hamstring (again), and it's currently unknown if he'll be ready for the Copa America.