The 2025/26 season represents a historic moment for Hamburger SV, as the Dino (the dinosaur, nicknamed for their record 55-year uninterrupted Bundesliga stint) finally returns to Germany’s top flight after seven agonising years in the 2. Bundesliga . The Volksparkstadion, with its 57,000 capacity and famous Nordtribüne, once again hosts Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and the fierce city derby against St. Pauli. Merlin Polzin, the 34-year-old who took interim charge midway through the promotion campaign and convinced the hierarchy to hand him the reins permanently, is the youngest coach in the Bundesliga this season . His task is monumental: keeping HSV up while managing the weight of a restless, starved fanbase. The summer transfer window saw the departure of promotion hero Davie Selke (22 goals), but sporting director Claus Costa and Stefan Kuntz have assembled an intriguing mix of Bundesliga veterans, promising loan signings, and exciting youth prospects. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Hamburg’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
1. Daniel Heuer Fernandes
Nationality: Portuguese (German-born)
Former Clubs: SC Paderborn, SV Darmstadt 98
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2019)
Daniel Heuer Fernandes survived the pre-season battle with Bayern loanee Daniel Peretz to retain his status as Hamburg’s number one . The 33-year-old’s command of the penalty area (87% cross-claiming success in 2025/26 to date) and reflexes (74% save percentage) have been vital in HSV’s competitive start. His distribution (88% pass completion) is reliable, though he lacks the expansive passing range of modern sweepers. Having started 24 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 8 clean sheets, he has justified Polzin’s faith. Heuer Fernandes’s contract runs through 2027.
2. Daniel Peretz
Nationality: Israeli
Former Clubs: Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bayern Munich
Transfer Fee: Loan from Bayern Munich (2025)
Daniel Peretz arrived on loan from Bayern Munich to provide top-level competition between the sticks . The 25-year-old’s reflexes (73% save percentage in limited appearances) and modern sweeping abilities impressed in pre-season, but he has largely served as backup. Peretz’s loan from Bayern expires in December 2025, with Hamburg deciding not to extend .
3. Sander Tangvik
Nationality: Norwegian
Former Clubs: Rosenborg BK
Transfer Fee: £1.5 million (2026)
Sander Tangvik, the 23-year-old Norwegian goalkeeper, joined Hamburg in the winter transfer window of 2026 as a long-term successor to Heuer Fernandes . He made his debut shortly after arriving. Tangvik also earned a call-up to the Norwegian national team for the 2026 World Cup, though he served as backup .
4. Hannes Hermann
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Hamburger SV academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Hannes Hermann has served as emergency fourth-choice option following development with Hamburg’s youth setup. The 20-year-old’s contract runs through 2027 .
Defenders
1. Miro Muheim (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: Swiss
Former Clubs: FC St. Gallen, BSC Young Boys
Transfer Fee: €1.5 million (2021)
Miro Muheim has become Hamburg’s defensive leader and set-piece specialist, the Swiss international providing overlapping runs, crossing (39% accuracy), and leadership across five seasons at the club. The 28-year-old’s offensive output (5 assists in 2025/26) leads Hamburg’s defenders. Muheim’s contract runs through 2029 . Muheim earned a call-up to Switzerland’s 2026 World Cup squad, representing Hamburg on the global stage .
2. Sebastian Schonlau (Captain)
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: SC Paderborn
Transfer Fee: €1.5 million (2022)
Sebastian Schonlau was stripped of the captaincy ahead of the 2025/26 season in a controversial decision by Polzin, who handed the armband to newcomer Yussuf Poulsen . The 32-year-old centre-back has handled the demotion professionally, providing aerial dominance (85% duel success) and organisational communication alongside Jordan Torunarigha. Schonlau’s contract runs through 2027 .
3. Jordan Torunarigha
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Hertha BSC, KAA Gent
Transfer Fee: €1 million (2025)
Jordan Torunarigha returned to German football in summer 2025 after a successful spell at Gent . The 28-year-old’s recovery pace (34.9 km/h) and left-footed passing have stabilised Hamburg’s backline, though he suffered a straight red card in the final pre-season friendly against Mallorca—a worrying sign . Torunarigha’s contract runs through 2028 .
4. Giorgi Gocholeishvili
Nationality: Georgian
Former Clubs: Shakhtar Donetsk
Transfer Fee: Loan (€500,000 fee) (2025)
Giorgi Gocholeishvili arrived on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk as Polzin’s preferred right-wing-back option . The 25-year-old’s forward passing and work rate have impressed, though his Pokal performance left room for improvement . Gocholeishvili’s loan runs through 2025/26.
5. Warmed Omari
Nationality: Comorian (French-born)
Former Clubs: Stade Rennais
Transfer Fee: Loan (2025)
Warmed Omari joined on loan from Stade Rennais, adding centre-back depth and physicality . The 26-year-old was recalled to the Comoros national team in 2026, starting in both of their June friendlies . Omari’s loan expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.
6. Noah Katterbach
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: 1. FC Köln, FC Basel (loan)
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Noah Katterbach has provided left-back depth following his arrival from 1. FC Köln. The 25-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.4 per 90) have been functional when called upon. Katterbach’s contract runs through 2028 .
7. William Mikelbrencis
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: FC Metz
Transfer Fee: €1 million (2024)
William Mikelbrencis has provided right-back depth following his arrival from Metz. The 22-year-old’s physicality and tackling (2.4 per 90) offer functional cover. Mikelbrencis’s contract runs through 2028 .
8. Luka Vuskovic
Nationality: Croatian
Former Clubs: Hajduk Split (youth)
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Luka Vuskovic, the 19-year-old Croatian youth international, is widely considered Hamburg’s crown jewel . He was called up to Croatia’s 2026 World Cup squad, a remarkable achievement for a teenager playing for a newly promoted club . Vuskovic’s contract runs through 2030.
Midfielders
1. Nicolai Remberg
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Holstein Kiel
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2025)
Nicolai Remberg arrived from Holstein Kiel as one of Hamburg’s key summer signings, intended to provide attacking midfield thrust . The 25-year-old’s energy (11.3 kilometres per match) and late arrivals into the box have been inconsistent, but his partnership with Nicolas Capaldo remains one of HSV’s bright spots . Remberg’s contract runs through 2029 .
2. Nicolas Capaldo (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: CA Banfield, FC Red Bull Salzburg
Transfer Fee: €4 million (2025)
Nicolas Capaldo was signed as the direct replacement for the departed Ludovit Reis . The 27-year-old Argentine has been described as a “fighter” who presses with exceptional discipline . Capaldo earned his senior Argentina debut in June 2026, coming on as a substitute against Honduras . Capaldo’s contract runs through 2029 .
3. Albert Grönbaek
Nationality: Danish
Former Clubs: FK Bodø/Glimt, Stade Rennais
Transfer Fee: €6 million (2026)
Albert Grönbaek arrived on loan from Stade Rennais in January 2026 before signing a permanent deal with Hamburg . The 25-year-old attacking midfielder’s dribbling (3.6 successful take-ons per 90) and creativity have added a new dimension to HSV’s attack. Grönbaek’s contract runs through 2030 .
4. Jean-Luc Dompé
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: SV Sandhausen
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Jean-Luc Dompé has been Hamburg’s primary wide creator, the French winger providing pace, crossing, and finishing from the left flank across two seasons at the club. The 30-year-old’s dribbling (3.5 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) provide consistent threat. Dompé’s contract expires in 2026 .
5. Immanuel Pherai
Nationality: Surinamese (Dutch-born)
Former Clubs: Borussia Dortmund II, Eintracht Braunschweig, Hamburger SV
Transfer Fee: €2.5 million (2024)
Immanuel Pherai has struggled for minutes following a failed winter loan to Elversberg . The 24-year-old’s creative instincts remain evident, but his defensive work rate limits his utility in Polzin’s system. Pherai’s contract runs through 2028.
6. Daniel Elfadli
Nationality: German (Libyan descent)
Former Clubs: 1. FC Magdeburg
Transfer Fee: €1 million (2024)
Daniel Elfadli has provided defensive midfield depth following his arrival from 1. FC Magdeburg. The 28-year-old’s tackling (2.7 per 90) and positional discipline have been reliable when called upon. Elfadli’s contract runs through 2028 .
7. Fabio Baldé
Nationality: German (Portuguese descent)
Former Clubs: Hamburger SV academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Fabio Baldé has emerged as Hamburg’s most exciting academy product, the 19-year-old left-winger providing pace, dribbling, and creativity . Baldé’s contract was extended through 2030, with the club rejecting several January approaches. He also represented Portugal’s U20 team at the Maurice Revello Tournament in June 2026 .
8. Levin Öztunali
Nationality: German (Turkish descent)
Former Clubs: Bayer Leverkusen, 1. FSV Mainz 05, 1. FC Union Berlin
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Levin Öztunali has provided emergency midfield and wide depth following his free transfer from 1. FC Union Berlin. The 30-year-old’s contract runs through 2028 .
Forwards
1. Robert Glatzel
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Cardiff City, 1. FSV Mainz 05, SV Darmstadt 98
Transfer Fee: €3 million (2021)
Robert Glatzel remains Hamburg’s most reliable goal threat, the 31-year-old striker providing physicality, hold-up play, and finishing that have kept him at the club despite repeated Bundesliga interest . Glatzel was the only striker to score from open play in Hamburg’s last six pre-season friendlies, underscoring his importance . His finishing (11 goals in 2025/26) and aerial duel success (82%) make him Polzin’s primary attacking weapon. Glatzel’s contract runs through 2028 .
2. Yussuf Poulsen
Nationality: Danish
Former Clubs: RB Leipzig
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2025)
Yussuf Poulsen’s arrival from RB Leipzig was heralded as a coup, and he was immediately named club captain . The 31-year-old Dane has unfortunately struggled with fitness, missing most of pre-season and producing little in limited minutes . When fit, Poulsen’s link-up play and work rate remain valuable. Poulsen’s contract runs through 2028 .
3. Ransford Königsdörffer
Nationality: Ghanaian (German-born)
Former Clubs: Dynamo Dresden
Transfer Fee: €2.5 million (2022)
Ransford Königsdörffer was nearly sold to Nice in the summer, only for the move to collapse at the last moment . The 24-year-old has struggled for form and confidence, with many German observers having “long given up on this talent” . Königsdörffer’s pace remains a threat, but his end product (2 goals in 2025/26) has been disappointing. His contract runs through 2028 .
4. Bakery Jatta
Nationality: Gambian (German-born)
Former Clubs: Hamburger SV academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Bakery Jatta has become Hamburg’s longest-serving current attacking player, the 27-year-old Gambian providing pace, direct running, and work rate from the right flank across eight seasons at the club. Jatta’s contract runs through 2030 .
5. Rayan Philippe
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Eintracht Braunschweig
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2025)
Rayan Philippe arrived from Eintracht Braunschweig following a breakthrough season (12 goals) and was intended to spearhead Hamburg’s attack . The 25-year-old’s movement and finishing have shown flashes, but consistency has eluded him. Philippe’s contract runs through 2029 .
6. Damion Downs
Nationality: American (German-born)
Former Clubs: 1. FC Köln
Transfer Fee: €1.5 million (2026)
Damion Downs joined Hamburg from 1. FC Köln in the winter transfer window of 2026 . The 21-year-old American striker was described as possessing “the attributes we wanted” by sporting director Claus Costa. Downs represented the United States U21 team during the June 2026 international window .
7. Otto Stange
Nationality: German
Former Clubs: Hamburger SV academy, SV Elversberg (loan)
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Otto Stange returned from his loan at SV Elversberg in January 2026, where he had impressed . The 19-year-old attacker has been named among the substitutes regularly and earned Germany U19 caps in June 2026 . Stange’s contract runs through 2029.
Conclusion
Hamburg’s 2025/26 squad represents a bold experiment blending youthful exuberance (Vuskovic, Baldé, Stange) with experienced Bundesliga heads (Poulsen, Glatzel, Torunarigha). The defence remains a work in progress, with Muheim and Schonlau providing stability but Torunarigha’s discipline concerns lingering. The midfield engine of Capaldo and Remberg has been a bright spot, and Grönbaek’s January arrival added creativity. The attack relies heavily on Glatzel’s finishing, with question marks surrounding Poulsen’s fitness and Königsdörffer’s confidence . Polzin’s tactical approach emphasises defensive organisation and midfield pressing, but the lack of goals in pre-season (only one from open play in six friendlies) remains a concern . The daunting opening fixture away to Borussia Mönchengladbach will be an immediate test of Hamburg’s survival credentials . After seven years away, HSV’s priority is simple: avoid an immediate return to the 2. Bundesliga and re-establish the Dino as a top-flight fixture. This squad has the character, if not yet the certainty, to achieve that.
