Loan Watch: How the nine Eagles fared in 2025/26 | OneFootball

Nine Eintracht Frankfurt players have been on loan in six different countries this season. We reflect on their endeavours – with a little help from sporting director Timmo Hardung.

Elye Wahi (OGC Nice)

After making 14 Eintracht appearances across all competitions in the first half of the campaign, Elye Wahi returned to France in January to join OGC Nice. The forward registered nine goals and two assists in 19 appearances, including a double in a 4-1 relegation play-off second-leg victory over St. Etienne which helped the club preserve their top-flight status.

“All in all, it was a very positive loan move for Elye from a football perspective,” Eintracht sporting director Timmo Hardung said of the 23-year-old, who will be heading to North America in June. “He demonstrated his qualities on a regular basis in a competitive league, thereby earning himself a place in Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad.”Junior Dina Ebimbe (Stade Brestois 29)

Junior Dina Ebimbe was also lacing his boots in France’s Ligue 1. The midfielder appeared in 27 of a possible 31 games for Stade Brestois, in what Hardung described as a “solid loan campaign”. Dine Ebimbe also netted five goals to help the club comfortably avoid relegation with a 12th-placed finish.

Hrvoje Smolcic (Kocaelispor)

Defender Hrvoje Smolcic made 29 appearances for promoted Turkish SüperLig club Kocaelispor in all competitions, delivering impressive performances to help keep the team up, as well as providing a goal and an assist. “I’m satisfied with Hrvoje’s development,” said Hardung. “His 29 appearances demonstrate his consistency and importance to the team.”Niels Nkounkou (Torino FC)

Niels Nkounkou, meanwhile, endured a “challenging season overall” in Italy’s Serie A, making 13 appearances as Torino finished in 12th place.

Hardung added: “He was playing more often at the start of his loan but played less and less after that. Thirteen appearances certainly isn’t the amount of game time we were hoping for. That said, Serie A is a demanding league and he still gained valuable experience over there, both on and off the pitch.” 

Krisztián Lisztes (Ferencvárosi TC)

Krisztián Lisztes had rotten luck with injuries and even appeared for Ferencváros’ second team at one stage, but the campaign ended on a high note for the 21-year-old midfielder. “There was a clear positive development in the second half of the season in particular,” said Hardung. “The fact that he was able to earn a place in the Hungarian Cup final and make an appearance in that game shows that he was able to regain their trust.”Noah Fenyö (Újpest FC)

Like Lisztes in Budapest, Noah Fenyö can be proud of his efforts at Újpest FC during the second half of the season. “We can be very satisfied with Noah’s development,” Hardung said of the 20-year-old midfielder. “Moving from the [fifth-tier] LOTTO Hessenliga and the UEFA Youth League to the Hungarian top flight was a big leap, and he handled it brilliantly. He played in 15 of a possible 15 games, mostly as a starter, and also established himself in the Under-21 national team. For a player from our own youth system, those achievements are particularly satisfying and an important step in his continued development.” 

Jessic Ngankam (Wolfsberger AC)

Having fractured his tibia and fibula while on loan at Hannover 96 at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Jessic Ngankam worked his way back to fitness in Frankfurt before moving to Austria in February. “Unfortunately, he had another setback there due to muscular issues,” reflected Hardung. “Eight appearances and one goal are an unfair reflection of his potential. The priority for him now is to become more consistent in terms of his physical fitness.”Simon Simoni (1. FC Kaiserslautern)

Goalkeeper Simon Simoni made three appearances for 1. FC Kaiserslautern during the 2025/26 campaign. “As far as we’re concerned, Simon was clearly lacking regular playing time,” said Hardung. “Six games in 18 months is not enough for a young keeper, but we also appreciate how demanding a role it is.” 

Kaan İnanoğlu (FC Homburg 08)

After spending the first half of the season with the Under-21s in the fifth division, 20-year-old striker Kaan İnanoğlu moved to FC Homburg 08 in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Südwest and went on to score 16 goals in all competitions. “The loan move was a very valuable one for Kaan from a football perspective,” said Hardung. “He has shown that he can regularly decide games and shoulder responsibility at that level. Overall, his development has been very positive.”