Longest-serving Berliner
©IMAGO
FC Augsburg apparently wants to strengthen its central defense in the summer. While the Fuggerstadt team is working on a transfer for Paderborn’s Calvin Brackelmann, there are rumors about the next second division professional who is very popular with FCA. According to a “Bild” report, those responsible in Augsburg would like to start a new approach with Márton Dárdai from Hertha BSC.
The Hungarian international was trained in the capital’s youth team and is playing his sixth season for the professionals. Dárdai is the undisputed regular at Hertha, who started the season with great ambitions and will miss the return to the Bundesliga. He made 28 appearances in the second division and four games in the DFB Cup in 2025/26. He is also the longest-serving Herthan player and, with 140 games, played the most games for the Berlin team of all professionals.
Since Hertha’s relegation in 2023, there have been repeated rumors surrounding Dárdai about a move to the Bundesliga. FC Augsburg had already expressed interest two years ago, but the Berlin native remained loyal to the Old Lady and extended until 2028. According to the report, those in charge in Berlin are insisting on a transfer fee of 5 million euros – only three defenders have been more expensive in the club’s history. Nothing is known about concrete discussions yet.
Actually, central defense is not FCA’s big construction site. With Chrislain Matsima and Noahkai Banks – with a market value of 22 million euros – the two most valuable Augsburg players play in this position. In addition, the defense center is completed with captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, leading player Keven Schlotterbeck and Cédric Zesiger. It is quite possible that those responsible around sports director Benjamin Weber are speculating on high offers for Matsima or Banks.
