Contract terminated prematurely
©FC Red Bull Salzburg
This article was first published at 3:56 p.m. and has been updated following official confirmation from the clubs.
After nine years, 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Karim Onisiwo part ways. According to official club information, the 32-year-old attacker is joining Red Bull Salzburg; the “Salzburger Nachrichten” and “Kicker” had previously reported on it. The contract, which is valid until 2026, was terminated early, so no transfer fee is due. The zero-fives lose their best scorer in the Bundesliga club’s history.
Onisiwo has appeared on the field a total of 233 times for Mainz since his move in the winter of 2015, scoring 35 goals and providing 32 assists. The Austrian collected 62 of the 67 scorer points in the German football upper house – the best value since the first promotion in 2004. In terms of goalscorers, Onisiwo is still on a par with Jonathan Burkardt, who only needed 121 games for 33 goals.
Mainz sports director Christian Heidel said: “Karim was one of the formative Mainz players of the past decade. More than anyone else, he embodied our passionate style of play as a tireless driver and initiator of our courageous pressing. Due to his current sporting situation and the prospect of being able to return to his homeland, he approached us with a short-term request for a change, which we could not deny him. We would like to thank Karim for a great time together and his exemplary commitment over the years. We send him our very best wishes for his sporting and private future. Karim has earned his place in the history of Mainz 05, he will always remain a part of our 05 family.”
By moving back home, the 24-time Austrian national player missed out on making it into the top 10 of players with the most appearances for Mainz. Christian Hock was still missing 14 games, but given the lack of playing time in the first half of the season, that would have been difficult for the rest of the season anyway. In 204 minutes spread over eight games, the attacker remained without a goal in 2024/25.
In Salzburg, Onisiwo, who scored two goals in the Austrian Bundesliga for SV Mattersburg in 2015/16, is now supposed to help save the messed up season. Karim Konaté (20), the most valuable player in the attack, is out with a torn cruciate ligament, which is why a replacement was sought. The attacker’s contract in the city of Mozart runs until 2026.