Official: Bochum sign Estonia’s captain from St. Pauli | OneFootball

Karol Mets has signed for VfL Bochum on a free transfer after the end of his three-year spell at St. Pauli. Estonia’s captain was a key player in Kiezkicker’s promotion to the Bundesliga before playing 33 times in Germany’s top-flight.

St. Pauli are relegated to 2. Bundesliga after finishing bottom of the 2025/26 standings. The 33-year-old is one of the 17 Estonian players to represent the country in over 100 games. The defender is also currently the captain of the national team, although he wasn’t part of the squad that won the Baltic Cup last month.

Bochum have already added another center-back with the arrival of Yiğit Karademir from the newly-promoted 2. Bundesliga side VfL Osnabrück. On the contrary, experienced duo Erhan Masovic and Kevin Vogt have left the club this summer.

St. Pauli have completed the transfer of Magdeburg’s Marcus Mathisen after Hauke Wahl has decided to join fellow relegated side Wolfsburg. The Hamburg club needed 13 years to return to Bundesliga after their previous relegation.