English midfielder Charlie Patino set for a German loan

English midfielder Charlie Patino set for a German loan

Deportivo La Coruña midfielder Charlie Patino has made the move to 2. Bundesliga side VfL Bochum for the season, with the Englishman hoping to regain his form during his loan spell.

The Hertfordshire-based 22-year-old has bounced around on loan before, featuring for Blackpool and Swansea during his time at Premier League side Arsenal.

In 2024, Spanish second division side Deportivo signed the youngster on a four-year deal, with Patino slowly making his way into the first team. Across his first season at the club, he managed just 382 minutes across eight matches, but during the 2024/25 season he developed into a reliable player, managing 986 minutes across 31 matches, mainly off the bench.

The start of this season has not gone to plan, however, with Patino not included in the squad for any of Deportivo’s fixtures as they made their return to La Liga.

Patino will become the second-ever English player to feature for Bochum, with the former being Jordi Osei-Tutu, who also came through the Arsenal academy but never played for the first team.

Manager Uwe Rösler will hope that the midfield prospect can find his feet in the tough-to-navigate German league and help provide some firepower to a limp attack that managed just 49 goals in the second division last season.

If Patino can help drag Bochum out of mid-table mediocrity and back to the Bundesliga—the German side were relegated two seasons ago and finished ninth on their first time of asking back in the 2. Bundesliga—then a permanent signing may be in order.

Alternatively, Patino could find a place for himself in the top division of Spanish football on his return to Deportivo.