Experience, stamina and a drive to keep improving: New signing Eric Martel profiled

Say hello to our newest signing, Eric Martel! The 24-year-old has made the move up the Rhine from 1. FC Köln to Mainz, becoming FSV’s first new signing ahead of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. We take a closer look at the Straubing-born midfielder.

Standing at 1.88 metres tall, Martel brings both height and stamina to the pitch, as well as being strong in the tackle and in the air. He is also a player who isn’t afraid to put in the hard yards on the pitch. The defensive midfielder, who can also play at centre-back, has the statistics from the current season to back that up. Martel featured for Köln on 31 of the 34 matchdays, scoring twice and providing two assists. Across the Bundesliga, he ranks 15th for most duels won both on the ground (306) and in the air (104). Additionally, he covered 325.6 kilometres over the course of the season, putting him 27th in the league. His pass completion rate of 88.73 percent also places him 20th league-wide.

Plenty of experience at a young age

Despite his young age, Martel already brings considerable experience to the table, with 90 Bundesliga appearances and 31 games in the 2. Bundesliga for Köln. He has also gained European experience with 1. FC Köln in the Conference League and played in the Austrian Bundesliga for Austria Vienna. Not to be forgotten, he captained Germany U21s all the way to the European Championship final against England, playing in the same side as Paul Nebel and Nelly Weiper, among others. “Eric is a player who already brings a lot of Bundesliga experience and has shown his quality over several years, while also still having room to develop and a real drive to keep improving as a player,” said FSV sporting director Niko Bungert.

Battled through

Martel began his footballing career in the SSV Jahn Regensburg academy. Bigger youth setups soon became aware of him. RB Leipzig initially passed on him after his first trial, but, just as he does on the pitch, he refused to be knocked back. At just 15, he left eastern Bavaria for Leipzig, around 400 kilometres away, to join RB’s U17s. It was in Saxony that he made the step into professional football and was named in the Bundesliga squad several times, though he did not make his senior debut for the club.

Martel was then loaned to Austria to gain first-team experience at a high level. He made his breakthrough in Vienna, and after one season 1. FC Köln came calling. Following that successful stint, he established himself properly in the Bundesliga. Now, his next chapter in Germany’s top flight begins with FSV. “I’m really looking forward to the new season, the team, the city and the fans, and I can’t wait to get started at the beginning of July,” said Martel, underlining just how excited he is for the challenge ahead.