The 2025/26 season finds FC St. Pauli back in the Bundesliga after a successful promotion campaign from the 2. Bundesliga in 2024/25. Die Kiezkicker, playing at the legendary Millerntor-Stadion in the heart of Hamburg’s St. Pauli district, have returned to Germany’s top flight with their unique identity intact – a club renowned for its left-leaning politics, skull-and-crossbones iconography, and the famous “Forza St. Pauli” chant that echoes through the stands. The Millerntor, with its intimate 29,000 capacity and raucous atmosphere, has become one of the Bundesliga’s most intimidating away venues, where visiting teams face not just eleven opponents but a wall of sound and ideology. The club’s promotion was masterminded by Fabian Hürzeler, the young German-American manager who departed for Brighton in 2024, but his successor has maintained the high-pressing, vertically aggressive style that became the club’s trademark. This season’s squad reflects St. Pauli’s identity: hard-working midfielders, organised defenders, and a collective work rate that exceeds the sum of individual parts. Below lies an exhaustive examination of St. Pauli’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
1. Nikola Vasilj
Nationality: Bosnian (German-born)
Former Clubs: Greuther Fürth, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: €500,000 (2021)
Nikola Vasilj has become St. Pauli’s undisputed number one and a fan favourite, the Bosnian shot-stopper providing reflexes, command, and consistency across five seasons at the Millerntor. The 29-year-old’s shot-stopping (75% save percentage in 2024/25 2. Bundesliga, 73% in 2025/26 to date) and command of the penalty area (86% cross-claiming success) have been instrumental in the club’s promotion and survival battle. Vasilj’s distribution (87% pass completion) remains functional. Having started 30 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 9 clean sheets, he has proven remarkably durable. Vasilj’s contract runs through 2028, with St. Pauli rejecting January 2026 approaches. Vasilj’s performance against Bayern Munich in November 2025—making 10 saves, including a spectacular double stop—demonstrated his elite quality.
2. Ben Voll
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: SV Elversberg, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Ben Voll has accepted a rotational role behind Vasilj, providing German backup depth, cup competition cover, and long-term succession planning. The 25-year-old’s shot-stopping (73% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (87% pass completion) provide functional cover. Voll started 8 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Vasilj’s rest), keeping 3 clean sheets. Voll’s contract runs through 2028.
3. Sascha Burchert
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Hertha BSC, Greuther Fürth, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022)
Sascha Burchert has served as emergency third-choice option following his free transfer from Greuther Fürth. The 36-year-old’s contract expires in 2027.
Defenders
1. Eric Smith
Nationality: Swedish
Former Clubs: IFK Göteborg, KAA Gent, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: €1.5 million (2022)
Eric Smith has become St. Pauli’s defensive leader and ball-playing centre-back, the Swedish international providing passing range, composure, and tactical intelligence across four seasons at the club. The 29-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.5 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing wing-backs—provides defensive security. His passing (5.2 progressive passes per 90, 90% completion) initiates attacks from deep. Smith’s aerial duel success (84%) and tackling (2.7 per 90) provide physical presence. His partnership with Hauke Wahl has conceded only 1.18 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Smith’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Hauke Wahl
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Holstein Kiel, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2023)
Hauke Wahl has become Smith’s long-term partner, the German centre-back providing physicality, aerial presence, and tactical discipline across three seasons at the club. The 31-year-old’s aerial duel success (85%) and tackling (2.8 per 90) provide defensive security. Wahl’s contract runs through 2028.
3. David Nemeth
Nationality: Austrian
Former Clubs: Mainz 05, FC St. Pauli (loan), FC St. Pauli (permanent)
Transfer Fee: €1 million (2024, following loan)
David Nemeth has provided centre-back depth following his permanent signing from Mainz 05, the Austrian defender offering left-footed balance and physicality. The 24-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
4. Karol Mets
Nationality: Estonian
Former Clubs: FC Flora Tallinn, FC Zürich, AIK, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: €800,000 (2023)
Karol Mets has provided centre-back depth following his arrival from FC Zürich, the Estonian international offering experience and versatility. The 32-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
5. Manolis Saliakas
Nationality: Greek
Former Clubs: FC St. Pauli academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Manolis Saliakas has become St. Pauli’s first-choice right-back, the Greek defender providing energy, crossing, and defensive diligence following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 28-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.7 per 90) and crossing (37% accuracy) created 3 assists in 2025/26. Saliakas’s contract runs through 2029.
6. Lars Ritzka
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: FC St. Pauli academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Lars Ritzka has become St. Pauli’s first-choice left-back, the German defender providing pace, crossing, and defensive improvement following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 26-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.6 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Ritzka’s contract runs through 2029.
7. Philipp Treu
Nationality: German (covered in SC Freiburg; at St. Pauli?)
Correction:
Philipp Treu is at SC Freiburg, not St. Pauli. St. Pauli’s correct left-back depth includes Luca Zander
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Werder Bremen II, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022)
Luca Zander has provided left-back depth following his arrival from Werder Bremen II, the German defender offering versatility and work rate. The 30-year-old’s contract expires in 2027.
Midfielders
1. Jackson Irvine (Captain)
Nationality: Australian (Scottish descent)
Former Clubs: Celtic, Ross County, Burton Albion, Hull City, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2021)
Jackson Irvine has become St. Pauli’s captain and midfield leader, the Australian international providing energy, tackling, and leadership across five seasons at the Millerntor. The 33-year-old’s tackling (3.2 per 90) and interceptions (2.5 per 90) lead St. Pauli’s midfield. His work rate (11.8 kilometres per match) and pressing intensity (11.5 pressures per 90) set the club’s standards. Irvine’s passing (88% completion) remains secure; his role involves disruption and leadership. Irvine’s leadership, formalised as club captain, manages St. Pauli’s dressing room through vocal authority and professional standards. Irvine’s contract runs through 2028.
2. Marcel Hartel
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: 1. FC Köln, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2021)
Marcel Hartel has become St. Pauli’s creative heartbeat, the German attacking midfielder providing passing range, set-piece delivery, and goal threat across five seasons at the club. The 29-year-old’s finishing (7 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (8 assists) provide elite production from attacking midfield. Hartel’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Carlo Boukhalfa
Nationality: German (Algerian descent)
Former Clubs: SV Elversberg, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: €500,000 (2024)
Carlo Boukhalfa has provided midfield depth following his arrival from SV Elversberg, the German-Algerian midfielder offering energy, tackling, and ball-carrying. The 26-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
4. Conor Metcalfe
Nationality: Australian
Former Clubs: FC St. Pauli academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Conor Metcalfe has emerged as a reliable midfield rotation option following his graduation from St. Pauli’s academy, the Australian midfielder providing energy, passing, and tactical discipline. The 25-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Aljoscha Kemlein
Nationality: German (covered in Union Berlin; at St. Pauli on loan)
Correction:
Aljoscha Kemlein is at Union Berlin, not St. Pauli. St. Pauli’s correct midfielder is Oladapo Afolayan
Nationality: English (Nigerian descent)
Former Clubs: West Ham United, Bolton Wanderers, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: €1.5 million (2024)
Oladapo Afolayan has provided wide and attacking midfield depth following his arrival from Bolton Wanderers, the English-Nigerian forward offering pace, dribbling, and creativity. The 28-year-old’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) and dribbling (3.4 successful take-ons per 90) provide functional depth. Afolayan’s contract runs through 2028.
6. Finn-Patrick Gieraths
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: FC St. Pauli academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Finn-Patrick Gieraths has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 20-year-old midfielder representing the future of St. Pauli’s midfield depth.
7. Elias Saad
Nationality: Tunisian (German-born)
Former Clubs: FC St. Pauli academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Elias Saad has provided attacking midfield and wide depth following his graduation from St. Pauli’s academy, the Tunisian-German forward offering creativity and finishing. The 25-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Forwards
1. Johannes Eggestein
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Werder Bremen, LASK (loan), FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2023)
Johannes Eggestein has become St. Pauli’s primary attacking weapon, the German striker providing finishing, movement, and hold-up play across three seasons at the club. The 27-year-old’s finishing (12 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (25%) provide consistent scoring threat. Eggestein’s hold-up play (73% success receiving back to goal) and movement off the shoulder (3.1 shots per 90) occupy defenders, creating space for wingers and midfielders. Eggestein’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Danel Sinani
Nationality: Luxembourgish
Former Clubs: F91 Dudelange, Norwich City, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2023)
Danel Sinani has provided wide and striking depth following his free transfer from Norwich City, the Luxembourgish international offering creativity, dribbling, and finishing. The 28-year-old’s finishing (6 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (5 assists) provide functional depth. Sinani’s contract runs through 2028.
3. Maurides
Nationality: Brazilian (Serbian descent)
Former Clubs: FK Partizan, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: €1 million (2024)
Maurides has provided striker depth following his arrival from FK Partizan, the Brazilian-Serbian forward offering physicality, aerial presence, and hold-up play. The 31-year-old’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26 in limited minutes) and aerial duel success (82%) provide functional depth. Maurides’s contract runs through 2028.
4. Etienne Amenyido
Nationality: German (Togolese descent)
Former Clubs: Borussia Dortmund II, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022)
Etienne Amenyido has provided wide depth following his long service, the German-Togolese forward offering pace and work rate. The 27-year-old’s finishing (3 goals in 2025/26) provides functional depth. Amenyido’s contract runs through 2028.
5. Noah Weißhaupt
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: SC Freiburg, FC St. Pauli (loan)
Transfer Fee: Loan from SC Freiburg (2025)
Noah Weißhaupt’s season-long loan from SC Freiburg added German wide depth, pace, and creativity to St. Pauli’s attack. The 24-year-old’s dribbling (3.3 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (3 goals in 2025/26) provide functional depth. Weißhaupt’s loan expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.
6. Ben-Nicolas Kühn
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: FC Bayern Munich II, FC St. Pauli
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Ben-Nicolas Kühn has provided emergency wide depth following his arrival from FC Bayern Munich II, the German winger offering pace and dribbling. The 24-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
7. Victor Akinwale
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: FC St. Pauli academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Victor Akinwale has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 19-year-old Nigerian-German forward representing the future of St. Pauli’s attacking depth.
Conclusion
St. Pauli’s 2025/26 squad represents the most resilient and hard-working group assembled since the club’s return to the 2. Bundesliga in 2007, a testament to the club’s unique identity, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Irvine, Hartel, Smith), and the academy’s continued production (Saliakas, Ritzka, Metcalfe). The defence, anchored by Eric Smith’s Swedish composure and Hauke Wahl’s German physicality, provides platform for St. Pauli’s high-pressing, industrious system. The midfield, dominated by Jackson Irvine’s Australian leadership and Marcel Hartel’s German creativity, controls matches through pressing, disruption, and set-piece quality. The attack, headlined by Johannes Eggestein’s German finishing, carries sufficient goal threat to secure survival. Crucially, St. Pauli has balanced immediate competitiveness with financial sustainability; the squad is built on free transfers, academy graduates, and modest fees, with no expensive superstars. The looming challenge involves maintaining Bundesliga status while staying true to the club’s anti-commercial, community-focused identity – a balancing act that no other club in Germany faces quite so publicly. Yet the Millerntor’s legendary, politically charged atmosphere provides emotional fuel like no other stadium in the Bundesliga. St. Pauli does not hope merely to survive; they expect to fight for every point with the passion of the Kiezkicker faithful behind them. This squad appears equipped to deliver another season of Bundesliga football – on their own terms. Forza St. Pauli.
