St. Pauli Secures Mathias Rasmussen as Key Midfield Addition

St. Pauli has announced the acquisition of Norwegian central midfielder Mathias Rasmussen from Union St. Gilloise. The 28-year-old was previously mentored by FC St. Pauli’s head coach, Alexander Blessin, during his time at the Belgian club, where he featured in 53 competitive matches under Blessin’s guidance.

The Hamburg-based team also welcomed Japanese central defender Tomoya Ando at the onset of the January transfer window. Additionally, goalkeeper Emil Gazdov has been signed on loan from Montreal CF in Major League Soccer to serve as a backup for the regular starter, Nikola Vasilj. The arrival of Ando may suggest potential departures of some of St. Pauli’s existing central defenders, with a similar situation anticipated for Rasmussen.

Squad captain Jackson Irvine is currently on an expiring contract and has faced personal and sporting challenges with the club. Meanwhile, USMNT international James Sands continues to hold a regular position but is expected to return to New York City FC following the conclusion of his second loan period.

St. Pauli appears to view Rasmussen as a future midfield partner for Japanese international Joel Chima Fujita. The decision to sign one of Blessin’s former favorites indicates the club’s dedication to their head coach, particularly amid discussions regarding his potential dismissal due to the team’s ongoing struggles in the relegation battle this season. Despite these challenges, St. Pauli seems committed to retaining Blessin at the helm.

In a statement, Blessin remarked, “Mathias makes quick decisions under pressure and brings order to a team in the center. He can dictate the pace, call for the ball, and is also very reliable defensively. This balance between defensive reliability and offensive orientation is crucial for our game.”

FC St. Pauli’s sporting director, Andreas Bornemann, added, “We were able to convince Mathias—a very structured midfielder—to transfer to FC St. Pauli. It is particularly important that he can play in various positions in the center, providing us with additional options in midfield.”

Rasmussen expressed enthusiasm about joining the team, stating, “I’m really looking forward to the Bundesliga and particularly to FC St. Pauli’s intense style of football. The discussions with the club officials were very convincing, and I quickly realized that this was the right move for me.”

GGFN | Peter Weis