David Wagner downplayed 2016 Huddersfield Town signing

Supporters of Huddersfield Town will always remember the 2016–17 season since they made history by being

promoted to the Premier League, their first return to the top division since 1972.

The Terriers had decided to fire Chris Powell and hire David Wagner as their new manager the season before, and it

had paid off as they avoided relegation and maintained their Championship standing for another year.

However, roster adjustments were necessary as the West Yorkshire team aimed to contend for mid-table in the

second level. Even though several players, such as Rajiv van La Parra, Michael Hefele, and Christopher Schindler,

secured long-term deals, Wagner was a standout in the loan market.

Huddersfield was right to take a chance on the attacker, even though Elias Kachunga’s arrival from Ingolstadt,

Germany, may have surprised many at the time. Kasey Palmer, Danny Ward, and Aaron Mooy were among the other

noteworthy additions.

Wagner tried to ease the pressure on Kachunga’s shoulders

The forward, who is 24 years old, did have some experience, but in his prior years in the 2. Bundesliga, he had not

been very productive.

Nevertheless, it was decided to bring him to England so he could showcase his skills in the Championship for a team

whose primary goal was to regain their second-tier standing.

After his new forward was revealed as a Huddersfield player, Wagner explained why he was brought in and did his

best to relieve the existing Cambridge United player of all the burden upon his arrival, as reported by the BBC: “As a

young player, sometimes you need a challenging situation to advance.

“We needed another excellent option up front for the upcoming season, and I’m sure he provides it with his speed,

mobility, and work ethic.

“It was a big target of ours in this summer window to bring in senior competition for Nahki Wells and I believe that

is what Elias will give.”

Kachunga scored in his Championship debut against Brentford and then picked up two assists in his fourth game,

proving that Wagner’s claims were true. Early on, the Terriers were exuding confidence, and their new recruit was

proving to be a challenge to the front three.

Throughout the season, Huddersfield’s momentum persisted, and the former DR Congo international was quickly winning over supporters as a true asset.

Elias Kachunga Huddersfield Town stats 2016/17 (TransferMarkt)
Competition	Apps	Goals	Assists
Championship	42	12	4
Championship play-offs	3	–	–
FA Cup	2	–	–
EFL Cup	1	1	–

With Kachunga finishing the season with 12 goals and four assists in the league, the Yorkshire team managed to

guarantee their spot in the play-offs despite their inability to stay up with the top two.

They played Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals, and even though they didn’t score, the Terriers managed to

defeat them on penalties and keep out their opponents, securing a matchup with Reading at Wembley.

In a somewhat dull match, Kachunga played his part until he was substituted shortly after the hour mark, and

Huddersfield maintained composure in the shootout after another 0-0 draw.

Because of his contributions to the team’s promotion to the Premier League, he was given a permanent move to John

Smith’s Stadium, where he became something of a cult figure. He stayed for three more years before joining the

Owls, finishing with 128 Town appearances, 17 goals, and 10 assists.

After posting career-high stats during his time in West Yorkshire, Kachunga left as a hero and is remembered with

fondness, even though the highs of 2016–17 were never surpassed.