January 2025 Transfer Primer: Holstein Kiel

Holstein Kiel

Estimated Autumn Transfer Balance = -€5 million

The Bundesliga dreams of this northern burg, generally known to be more of a "handball city", remain alive following the recent surprise victory over Augsburg. Most German football watchers nevertheless generally regard the latest league win to be a total anomaly. Everything broke the way of this newly promoted side in a crazy first-half that enabled Kiel to capitalize on every last scoring chance and build up an insurmountable 4-1 half-time lead.

Kiel's schedule after the Winter break remains anything but kind. Marcel Rapp's crew must face Freiburg and Dortmund to wrap up the "Hin-Runde". It's entirely possible that the KSV will conclude the first half of the Bundesliga season with an eight-point-haul. Such a total renders it scarcely possible that they can pick up the needed 27 points in 17 matches in order to secure safety.

The club heads into the new calendar year over-leveraged. The Summer sale of former captain Philipp Sander to Gladbach generated an estimated €1 million, but additions such Magnus Knudsen, Armin Gigovic, Tymoteusz Puchacz and Phil Harres probably pushed Kiel into the red by about four times that amount. The recent signing of Slovenian defender David Zec may have cost another €1.5 million.

In a little over ten years, Kiel has risen all the way from the fourth division to the German top flight. Such a rapid upward swing naturally brings with it the accompanying problem of renovating the stadium to meet DFL licensing standards. The club has roughly four years to increase the capacity of Holstein stadium by about 10,000 spectators; a project estimated to cost around €75 million.

Dead-Weight Ledger = Tymoteusz Puchacz (LB), Marco Komenda (CB), Aurel Wagbe (LM), Andu Yobel Kelati (LW) 

Getting summer transfer busts Tymoteusz Puchacz and Andu Yobel Kelati off the payroll would count as sound fiscal personnel management. Assuming loan-outs can be organized, some modest fees could offset the payroll outlays from the first half of the season. Sporting director Carsten Wehlmann - not exactly a stranger to navigating tight fiscal spaces after his years working at Darmstadt - probably operates under strict cost-correcting directives. 

Expiring contracts = Colin Kleine-Bekel (CB), Marvin Schulz (DM), Lewis Holtby (CM)

Germany U21 international Colin Kleine-Beckel (estimated €2.5 million market worth) unfortunately cannot be cashed in on as he is hurt. The question as to whether Marvin Schulz (29) or Lewis Holtby (34) shall continue on with the club will obviously be deferred until the fate of the club next season is determined. Much speaks to Wehlmann and staff planning for a forthcoming year in the 2. Bundesliga. 

Further Needs =  LB, CB, RW, LS

Rumor mills obviously yield little when it comes to such a small club. Beyond the talk that the storks are an active part of (for lack of a better term) "the race to acquire Ivan Prtajin", there isn't much to report. An educated guess reasons that Wehlmann and staff will secure two to three more players on loan before next month is out. Players on the "Dead Weight Ledgers" of other clubs make for the best candidates.