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Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - Football professional Jakob Johnson is planning to join the new Stuttgart Surge team, which will start in the newly founded European League of Football (ELF) from mid-June.

"We are currently in the process of recording the details," said the New England Patriots player from the North American NFL at an online press conference for the Swabians on Wednesday.

First of all, he supported the team from his hometown in the media, explained Johnson. But he wants to expand his commitment and “really get involved”. In what form the 26-year-old, whose own contract with the Patriots was recently extended by one year, still left open. "As a player in the NFL, I think everyone dreams of living the life of a franchisee," he joked. “I don't know if I can afford it like that. But I definitely intend to be there in some way. " In order to anchor the sport “for the next decades in Europe” it needs “local teams and a local fan base”, said Johnson.

In addition to Stuttgart, five other German teams (Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Cologne) will compete in the new Europa League.

Then there are the Panthers Wroclaw from Poland and the Barcelona Dragons from Spain.

"We have about 90 percent of our squad together," said Surge head coach Martin Hanselmann.

"The majority comes from the region."

But there are also players from the USA, England, Spain, France and Australia.

The Stuttgart team play their home games in the GAZi stadium.

They should take place regardless of whether spectators can be admitted by then or not.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210421-99-295697 / 2

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