1. FC Union Berlin central defender Nicolai Rapp will join 2.Bundesliga side Darmstadt on loan for the 2020/2021 season.

The 23-year-old moved to Darmstadt in January and appeared 13 times at the Stadion am Böllenfalltor. He returned to Köpenick this summer but the defender will re-join the second-tier club in order to get more minutes under his belt.

"We got Nicolai in January 2019 from Aue so we could make our defence stronger. He's a player with a lot of potential and extremely driven but ultimately needs game time. Therefore, with not as much opportunity to play, we decided to loan him out. We've always observed his development in Darmstadt but from the perspective of all parties, another loan deal makes sense. Nicolai will get more experience and return to us next summer," said Oliver Ruhnert, Director for Professional Football at 1. FC Union Berlin.