Is the quality sufficient? FC St. Pauli's risky squad overhaul

Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli is facing a personnel drain after being relegated. Numerous players have already left the brown and white club, and new faces have been scarce so far. And another high-profile departure could be imminent.

In recent years, a phrase has become established among St. Pauli fans that honors their sporting director: "Bornemann Masterclass." Andreas Bornemann's knack for selecting coaches and players over the past few years has earned him this "honor." That's why no one around the Millerntor is panicking, even if the Kiezkickers are currently experiencing a lot of personnel changes.

A brief Instagram post recently announced that striker Johannes Eggestein will not be receiving a new contract; the 27-year-old's contract expires in the summer. Eggestein is thus the tenth departure for the northern German club, who are currently facing a massive and risky overhaul in attack.

Following the departures of Eggestein, Andreas Albers (contract not renewed), Simon Zoller (retirement), Noah Weißhaupt, and Morgan Guilavogui (both on loan), St. Pauli's attack has shrunk significantly. While Albers and Zoller were calculated departures, the situation is quite different for Weißhaupt and especially Guilavogui. Hamburg would have preferred to include a purchase option in Weißhaupt's loan agreement, but SC Freiburg rejected this, and Weißhaupt is now returning to the club.

Hamburg had such an option for Guilavogui, the Brown-Whites' top scorer last season, and they exercised it. However, the attacker is unlikely to play at Millerntor next season. RC Lens had a buy-back option for Guilavogui, which they exercised. St. Pauli may have made a financial gain at the end of the tug-of-war, but it cannot fill the qualitative gap left by the 27-year-old's departure.

The Kiezkickers' attack currently consists of Elias Saad (injured), Maurides (on loan), Abdoulie Ceesay (rarely in the matchday squad during the latter stages of the season), Danel Sinani, and Oladapo Afolayan. The latter gave a highly publicized interview on the final matchday of last season, in which he criticized his coach Alexander Blessin and his defensive style of play. The extent to which the Englishman's relationship with his coach can be restored remains to be seen during preseason.

In midfield, Carlo Boukhalfa suffered the same fate as Eggestein. The 26-year-old, who made significant progress last season and thrived in coach Blessin's system, will also not receive a new contract at Millerntor. Although Hamburg extended James Sands' loan deal, the northern German club's midfield remains a work in progress. American international Sands is currently injured, as is team captain Jackson Irvine.

The Brown-Whites are facing another unwanted departure in defense, their highlight of last season. According to media reports, league rivals Freiburg are interested in a transfer of full-back Philipp Treu. The 24-year-old joined the Millerntor on a free transfer from the Breisgauer U23 team just two years ago. Should Treu leave St. Pauli, the Hamburg club is likely to receive a transfer fee in the high single-digit million range.

Money that would also be needed to strengthen the squad. So far, the Bundesliga club has only announced two new signings: defenders Arkadiusz Pyrka and Jannik Robatsch. Hamburg media also reported interest in Australian striker Noah Botic. However, whether Botic or the still young Robatsch and Pyrka, with their quality, can provide immediate relief in the difficult second year after promotion remains to be seen.

Even though the Brown-Whites' focus will again be on defense next season, the departures of Weisshaupt and especially Guilavogui pose a significant burden for Hamburg, who will need to be replaced. Bornemann will have to prove his "masterclass" once again in the renewed mission to avoid relegation.

This topic in the program: Hamburg Journal | June 13, 2025 | 7:30 PM

• NDR
• FC St. Pauli
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• Bundesliga