First team 03.09.2026 - 22:57 Uhr
HSV in profile: big-name reinforcements and a work in progress
On the final day of the transfer window, Mainz 05’s first away opponents welcomed some high-profile new signings. But that is no “free pass”, as the head coach stresses
After seven long years in the second tier, Hamburger SV are heading into their second season since returning to the Bundesliga. In order to improve on last season’s solid 13th-place finish and potentially surpass the 38-point mark, HSV strengthened their squad shortly before the transfer window closed this week with a trio of high-profile signings. We take a closer look at FSV’s opponents for their first away match of the current season on Sunday (15:30, live on DAZN and 05ER.fm) at the Volksparkstadion.
The start:
Head coach Merlin Polzin saw a weak first half and a good second half from his team in their 2-0 defeat in Dortmund. “For 45 minutes, we were not the HSV we want to be,” said the Hamburg head coach. Two goals before the break put BVB firmly in control, and a more courageous performance after half-time brought no reward for the side from the Hanseatic city. In the DFB-Pokal, they had previously struggled for long periods away to third-division side SC Verl, but ultimately came through comfortably with a 3-0 win.
Merlin Polzin, seit 23. Dezember 2024 Cheftrainer des Hamburger Sportvereins.
The coach:
In 35-year-old Polzin, HSV have the youngest coach in the Bundesliga on the touchline. He has been working at the club since 2020. As assistant coach, he experienced the missed promotions under Tim Walter, Daniel Thioune, Horst Hrubesch and Steffen Baumgart at close quarters. He initially took over from Baumgart as interim head coach in November 2024. One day before Christmas, Polzin was then officially appointed head coach and, after a long absence, led the club back to where HSV believe they belong: Germany’s top flight.
Damals Gegner, heute Kollegen: Kacper Potulski (li) und der Mainzer Neuzugang Ransford Königsdörffer beim Duell in der Rückrunde der vergangenen Saison.
The squad:
HSV head coach Polzin has to integrate a total of ten new signings as quickly as possible. Three of them, all big names, arrived shortly before the transfer window closed. Portuguese midfield playmaker Fabio Vieira was already on loan from Arsenal last season and was the team’s top scorer. He has now been signed permanently. Moroccan international and right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi from KRC Genk has also signed a long-term contract in Hamburg. In addition, wide player David Möller Wolfe, who caused a stir as a regular starter for Norway at the World Cup this summer, has joined HSV on loan from Premier League-relegated Wolverhampton. Alongside the three players already mentioned, several other players, some of them experienced, have also joined HSV: Albert Groenbaek, Martin Adeline, Terem Moffi, Kofi Amoako, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Bilal Nadir and Patson Daka are all new arrivals. They are expected to compensate for the departures of Robert Glatzel, Ransford Königsdörffer, Fabio Baldé and Luka Vuskovic, who had been key faces of the team in recent years.
Polzin credited his sporting director Claus Costa with doing “a fantastic job”, but also pointed to the ongoing process. “It will again take time to build a connection with one another and develop a collective mindset.” New signings are not a “free pass”. “After promotion, we spoke about wanting to be humble and represent a different HSV. What we definitely will not do is talk about our goals changing and naively believe that we can simply march through the Bundesliga,” said Polzin. His team should continue to be an uncomfortable opponent.
