FSV Mainz 05 made two significant squad decisions on transfer deadline day, concerning the futures of Marco Richter and Hyun-seok Hong. The Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Richter, 28, has had his contract terminated by mutual agreement and is now a free agent, though he continues to train with the squad as a 'training guest'. Meanwhile, Hong, 27, has joined Danish side FC Midtjylland on a season-long loan deal that includes an option to buy.
For Hyun-seok Hong, the move to Denmark represents his third loan spell in quick succession, following previous stints at FC Nantes in France and KAA Gent in Belgium. Mainz 05 head coach Urs Fischer explained the decision to the Allgemeine Zeitung. "In den aktuellen Planungen von 05-Trainer Urs Fischer hatte der 27-Jährige keine sportliche Perspektive und Aussicht auf Spielzeit," Fischer said. This meant there was no prospect of game time for the South Korean midfielder in Mainz's plans for the new campaign. The club hopes Hong will find the necessary minutes in the Danish Superliga to continue his development.
The squad overhaul at Mainz 05 extends far beyond these two cases. The club has been exceptionally active during the summer window. New arrivals include Stefan Posch from Como, Alexander Schowolow from Hearts of Midlothian, Fabio Gruber from 1. FC Nürnberg, Eric Martel from 1. FC Köln, and Ransford Königsdörffer from Hamburger SV. Maxim Kinzig has been promoted from the club's own U23 team, while Otto Ruoppi has been signed permanently following his loan at Kuopio PS. In parallel, there has been a slew of departures, mostly in the form of loan moves. William Böving has joined 1. FC Nürnberg on loan, Nelson Weiper has moved to Sturm Graz, and Ben Bobzien to Dynamo Dresden. Niklas Tauer has gone to TSV Havelse, Maxim Dal to Spvgg. Greuther Fürth, and Lasse Rieß to Fortuna Düsseldorf. Tom Krauß has been loaned to 1. FC Köln, Kasey Bos to Excelsior, and Daniel Gleiber to 1. FC Saarbrücken. Nikolas Veratschnig has joined RB Salzburg on loan, Daniel Batz has moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Arnaud Nordin to Stade Rennes. The future of Maxim Leitsch remains open.
A particularly notable exit was that of Andreas Hanche-Olsen. The 29-year-old Norwegian defender transferred to Chicago Fire FC in Major League Soccer. He signed a long-term contract there running until the end of the 2030/31 season. The transfer fee was reported to be two million US dollars. Hanche-Olsen originally joined Mainz 05 from KAA Gent in January 2023 for a fee of 2.5 million euros. Over three and a half years, he made 77 competitive appearances for the club but also missed 59 matches due to injuries. His departure frees up space and budget in the centre-back position.
This squad restructuring takes place against the backdrop of a modest start to the new Bundesliga season. After the first matchday, Mainz 05 sits in tenth place in the league standings. The team has taken one point from a draw, with zero wins and zero losses. Their goal difference is 0:0. They currently trail league leaders Bayern Munich by two points. The personnel situation is tight, as the current injury list confirms. Benedict Hollerbach, Dominik Kohr, Eric Martel, and Silas are all currently sidelined. The next challenge comes on September 6, 2026, with an away fixture against Hamburger SV, who are in 14th place. All upcoming matches can be found on our fixtures page.
Despite intense speculation in the final phase of the transfer window, Kaishu Sano will not be leaving FSV Mainz 05 this season. The club reportedly received an offer from Crystal Palace said to be worth 30 million euros. Mainz 05 considered this sum absurd, as their own valuation of the player sits between 50 and 60 million euros. Consequently, the squad's most valuable asset remains with the club for now. The Nullfünfer will continue to rely on his qualities in midfield for the ongoing campaign. The complete squad overview is available in the current team profile. Mainz 05's next competitive match is away at Hamburger SV on September 6, 2026.
