153 expiring contracts
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In the 2nd Bundesliga, 153 contracts expire in the summer of 2025 and from January 1st these professionals can sign with a new club. Many players are waiting to see which league their club will compete in next season and are hoping for offers from higher-class teams. At 1. FC Cologne in particular, there is great concern about losing top performers – the cathedral city’s three most valuable professionals are now without a contract as of next summer, and one has announced his departure.
Dejan Ljubicic (27), Linton Maina (25) and Tim Lemperle (22) can negotiate with new employers from January 1st. The latter has already informed those responsible that he will be leaving the club. The favorite to sign Lemperle, who is Cologne’s top scorer with nine goals, is TSG Hoffenheim. After Eric Martel (22), Ljubicic and Lemperle are the highest-rated players in Gerhard Struber’s squad with a market value of 5 million euros. In addition, nine other contracts are expiring in the league’s most valuable squad at 58.1 million euros.
Relegation candidate Eintracht Braunschweig is also worried about life insurance Rayan Philippe (24). The Frenchman’s working paper, who scored nine of Braunschweig’s 16 goals, ends in the summer and, given the sporting situation, it is extremely unlikely that he will stay. Philippe was responsible for 56.3 percent of his team’s goals – a value which is unparalleled in the major European football nations. Among other things, SC Freiburg is said to be interested in the 24-year-old. With a market value of 3 million euros, he is by far Eintracht’s most valuable player.
Also the contract of Karlsruhe’s top scorer Budu Zivzivadze (30), who leads the top scorers list with twelve goalsends in summer. For the Georgian, it could be the last chance to sign a relatively large contract again. Other exciting candidates for a free transfer next summer are his teammate Marcel Beifus (22), Phil Neumann (27) from Hannover 96 and Hertha’s Jonjoe Kenny (26).
Planning security at HSV – Regensburg threatens to lose 20 players
Of the 18 second division clubs, Hamburger SV has the greatest planning security, with four contracts ending in the summer of 2025. However, there are top performers such as Jean-Luc Dompé (29) and Davie Selke (29), who are among the team’s top scorers. There is reportedly a clause in Selke’s contract for an extension if he is promoted to the Bundesliga. According to consistent media reports, the attacker can imagine staying even if he doesn’t get promoted. Behind HSV comes Paderborn, where six professionals can now leave the club for free in the summer. Bottom line Jahn Regensburg has 20 contracts in the 31-man squad, most of them in the 2nd Bundesliga, followed by Ulm (15).