FSV Mainz 05 Eyes Loan Move for Borna Sosa from Crystal Palace

FSV Mainz 05, currently at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings, is reportedly interested in acquiring Crystal Palace winger Borna Sosa on loan. According to Germany’s Südwestrundfunk Radio (SWR), Mainz is actively pursuing a deal for the former Stuttgart player after he joined the Eagles for €2.3 million from Ajax this past summer.

The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract with Crystal Palace in July but has only made three Premier League appearances this season. Despite this limited playing time, the German broadcaster indicates that Palace is not looking to sell him outright. Sosa could potentially see significant playing time as a left wingback at Mainz, especially given that regular players Anthony Caci and Phillipp Mwene are both currently battling injuries.

Sosa had his most successful years at Stuttgart, where he had a breakout season in 2020/21. During that period, the German Football Association (DFB) expedited his application for German citizenship, hoping he would represent Germany at the UEFA Euro 2021. Former German national team coach Joachim Löw was involved in this initiative. Although Sosa, born in Croatia, moved to Stuttgart from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015 and has a German mother raised in Berlin, the DFB was unable to finalize his citizenship in time to comply with FIFA regulations. Sosa received his German passport in the spring of 2021 but ultimately chose to represent Croatia.

Over the subsequent seasons, Sosa continued to perform well in the Bundesliga before transferring to Ajax in September 2023 for €8 million. At the peak of his career in June 2022, Sosa was valued at €23 million. However, his form declined before moving to Ajax, where he struggled to adapt under former Stuttgart personnel chief Sven Mislintat. After a disappointing season in the Eredivisie, he was loaned to Torino for the 2024/25 season.

Although Sosa received regular playing time at both Ajax and Torino, he was unable to score during his stints. Torino ultimately decided against exercising the purchase option in Sosa’s loan agreement. Given his challenges adapting to the system under Austrian head coach Oliver Glasner, the circumstances are now conducive for a loan move back to Germany.