Sturm Graz have signed defender Joshua Quarshie on loan from Southampton. The 22-year-old centre-back joined the Austrian Bundesliga side on 27 August 2026 in a deal that runs until 30 June 2027.
The Black-Whites currently sit fourth in the Bundesliga table with eight points from five matches. They have scored six goals and conceded five. Their next fixture is a direct clash with league leaders Lask Linz at home on 13 September, where Graz will aim to close the seven-point gap.
Joshua Quarshie is a centre-back born in Duisburg who is eligible to represent both Germany and Ghana. The ambidextrous defender began his career at TuRa 88 and later progressed through the youth academies of Schalke 04 and Fortuna Düsseldorf. At Rot-Weiss Essen, he moved from the youth setup to the under-19 team. In July 2022, he transferred to Hoffenheim II for €120,000 and was promoted to the TSG first team a year later.
Southampton signed the defender for a fee of €3.5 million in July 2025. However, Quarshie did not make a single appearance for the Saints in the Championship or EFL Cup. In previous seasons, he gained experience in the 2. Bundesliga during loan spells at Fortuna Düsseldorf and Greuther Fürth.
Quarshie is expected to bolster Sturm Graz's central defence and add stability to their back line. Manager Christian Ilzer gets another option for the heart of his defence with the 1.90-meter tall player. His contract at Southampton expires in parallel with his loan deal on 30 June 2027, with the English club retaining his registration rights during the loan period.
Sturm Graz have thus secured another piece for their ongoing season just before the transfer window closed. The team has shown solid early form in the Bundesliga with two wins, two draws and one loss.
The move comes at a time when Sturm Graz are established in mid-table and seeking to close the gap to the top. With a positive goal difference of plus one, the team has a good foundation for the coming weeks. The upcoming fixtures, including the direct clash with Lask, can be viewed on our fixtures page.
Quarshie is expected to be integrated directly into the squad preparing for the Lask match. His profile as a young, two-footed defender with experience in German leagues fits Ilzer's system. The current team composition can be tracked on our squad overview.
The loan offers the player a chance to regain regular playing time at a high level after difficult months in England. For Sturm Graz, it is a flexible reinforcement without long-term contractual commitment beyond the 2026/27 season. The next home game against the league leaders is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
