Bundesliga January 2026 Transfer Primers | 1. FC Heidenheim | OneFootball

The next our 18 Bundesliga transfer primers to be published here on Get German Football News covers 1. FC Heidenheim. The “Ostalbenschwaben” (frequently the all-too-easy target of more humor-slanted analysis) find themselves in the perhaps not-so-humorous position of being second-to-last in the Bundesliga table. Despite that, one actually thinks this “Zwerg-Klub” might be preparing to defy all the odds again.

As it stands now, Frank Schmidt’s FCH are only three points from safety. New club talisman Stefan Schimmer has led the team to crucial league victories over legitimately tough opponents like Freiburg and Union Berlin in recent weeks. Slumping Köln and last-placed Mainz await after the turn of the calendar year before the Hin-Runde concludes. Heidenheim could be out of the relegation zone by the time the campaign reaches its halfway mark.

1. FC Heidenheim

The author’s sanguine prediction wasn’t far off.

Winter Predictions Check, 1. FC Heidenheim

Predicted Table Position – 15th place

Actual Table Position – 17th place, 11 points

(4-W, 2-D, 9-L)

(-11 G-Diff)

Heidenheim have scored as few league goals as their fellow relegation rivals and table neighbors Mainz and St. Pauli. Whenever Schmidt’s crew manage to get some confidence under their wings, they do create plenty of chances up front. This proved the case even in the final 2025 league defeat against Bayern. The fans largely remain behind this club, as evidenced by the fact that all the home fixtures continue to sell out. Over 10,000 inhabitants of this town of only 50,000 have purchased a club membership since the promotion nearly three years ago. Plenty of local supporters still believe in this project.

Autumn Transfer Assessment, 1. FC Heidenheim

We’ve precious little to discuss here. As noted back in August, there was next to nothing happening on the incoming transfer front this offseason. Keeper Diant Ramaj (Borussia Dortmund) and attacker Arijon Ibrahimovic (FC Bayern München) arrived on loan. A horror injury incurred by the third acquisition (fullback Leart Paçarada from Köln) negates the entire transition. Local passionate support notwithstanding, club CEO Holger Sanwald has quite a bit of work to do this month. More bodies are sorely needed on this small 27-man-roster.

Before moving on, one should expend just a few words on the performances of Ramaj and Ibrahimovic. The Bayern loanee hasn’t worked out terribly well, but (in one sense at least) is responsible for helping the club pick up four points via critical assists in the draw against Frankfurt and the win over Union. Ramaj’s stats (zero clean sheets and a league high 34 goals conceded) make him seem like a total bust. Anyone who’s been watching him will nevertheless report that he’s done a helluva job with the sordid crap hand this defense has been dealing him.

Dead Weight Ledger and Expiring Contracts, 1. FC Heidenheim

Now that it unreservedly hasn’t worked with Heidenheim, 1. FC Kaiserslautern fans will gladly take Julian Niehues back. If anyone forgot about sparsely used center back Thomas Keller, or had no idea he existed in the first place, that’s perfectly forgivable. The concept of “dead weight” doesn’t really exist on a 27-man-roster. We’ve precious little to discuss here as well. 

Dead-Weight Ledger = Julian Niehues (DM), Thomas Keller (CB)

If Schimmer doesn’t receive a fully deserved contract extension, this club fully deserves not to remain in the league. Money certainly remains tight in the BaWü border town, but Sanwald and the rest of the team must find a way to get this done. Some unavoidable infrastructure investments (FCH still doesn’t have a stadium up to Bundesliga specs) tied up cash this offseason and was a considerable factor in the quiet transfer summer. Schimmer remains worth it.

The author has probably labelled fullback Omar Haktab Traoré “one of the Bundesliga’s most severely underrated players” 2,140 times. It’s no surprise at all to read of the Osnabrück-native being linked with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Union Berlin. FCH won’t extend with him. Traoré should end up getting snapped up by a Bundesliga club that recognizes his “Julian Ryerson” potential early in the window.

Expiring contracts =  Omar Haktab Traoré (RB), Stefan Schimmer (CF)

Further Needs and Rumored Links, 1. FC Heidenheim

Plenty of chatter surrounding this club as we head into the window. Heidenheim are leading the “race” to pick up disaffected striker Philipp Tietz from Augsburg. These Swabians may also snatch up a top attacking prospect Ryan Naderi from the club they’re currently embroiled in a nasty trademark battle with, Hansa Rostock. Heidenheim are also among the Bundesliga suitors for stalled SV Werder Bremen forward Keke Topp. 

Schmidt’s squad remains in dire need of defensive help and – if they end up selling Traoré – will have to find a defender with some solid wide experience. Unfortunately, a deal to secure the services of Stuttgart’s Leonidas Stergious appears increasingly unlikely. Instead, it will probably be Eintracht Frankfurt’s Elias Baum (courted by many this autumn) who heads to the Ostalb.

Further Needs = LB, RB, CM, ATTM, CF

Rumored Links = Leonidas Stergiou (RB), Philipp Tietz (CF), Keke Topp (CF), Ryan Naderi (CF)

GGFN | Peter Weis