1. FSV Mainz 05 have confirmed the signing of 23-year-old Karim Onisiwo from SV Mattersburg. The Austrian left-winger joined on a free transfer and signed a contract until June 2019.
Heidel and Schmidt have their say
Managing director Christian Heidel is very happy about signing the youngster and told the club website: "Onisiwo is a highly talented player, who we scouted for a long time." The 52-year-old added that, "This signing is the next exciting project to develop a hungry and young player into a good Bundesliga player. We see this potential in him."
Martin Schmidt, coach of Mainz, looks forward to working with Onisiwo and admitted, "He is a fast and skillful player, who fits. He will get the time to develop his talent and bring this to a higher level."
Wayfaring man
Despite only being 23 years of age Onisiwo has moved club six times, including to his new setting in Mainz.
The player took a while to find a spot in the highest division of Austria and, last summer, moved from Austria Salzburg to SV Mattersburg and was an instant hit. In the first half of this season, he scored twice and assisted seven goals in 18 matches. Through these performances he also got a call-up to the national team and played 32 minutes against Switzerland in November, where the Austrians lost 1-2.
At Mainz, Onisiwo can expect competition for places because he's not the only winger in the team and has to impress the coach during the winter break. Maximilian Beister is especially keen to find a way back into the Bundesliga and will be fighting desperately for a place in the line-up. There is also Jairo Samperio, Pablo de Blasis and Yunus Malli in fine form already, so it will be difficult for both players to find a starting spot.