Mainz 05 2025/26 season preview: Transfers, pre-season, predicted lineup & predictions | OneFootball

After Bo Henriksen guided Mainz to safety in May 2024, the Danish oversaw a fantastic campaign for Die Nullfünfer, who secured European football for the fourth time in the club's history, while matching their highest Bundesliga finish secured under Thomas Tuchel in the 2010/11 term.

Ahead of their Bundesliga opener on home soil against Köln, Mainz is preparing for their DFB-Pokal first-round fixture against Dynamo Dresden and a UEFA Conference League play-off against Rosenborg.

Pre-season performances

In the club's recognised pre-season fixtures, Mainz secured an unbeaten record, with wins against Bayern Alzenau, Saarbrücken, Seekirchen, and a 0-0 draw with Strasbourg in their season opener at MEWA Arena.

They also drew 1-1, and won 3-2 against Crystal Palace in a double header featuring two 60-minute matches in Austria.

It has been an unorthodox pre-season for the club, with European qualifiers taking place before the opening league weekend. However, the results will be something to ease supporters' minds ahead of a huge campaign in Rhineland-Pfalz.

Transfers

The biggest transfer of the club's summer thus far has been the loss of talismanic centre-forward, Jonathan Burkardt, who made the move to join rivals Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of €21 million.

Ludovic Ajoeque, Edimilson Fernandes, Tom Krauß, Hyon-seok Hong and Marco Richter have all departed, with the latter three leaving on loan.

Benedict Hollerbach has joined from Union Berlin, with Mainz parting with €10 million to secure the forward's signature.

Kasey Bos, Sota Kawasaki and Konstantin Schopp have also joined the club.

Predicted starting line-up

Despite the loss of Burkardt, Henriksen is expected to field a similar lineup as Die Nullfünfer prepare for European football.

3-4-2-1: Zentner - Da Costa, Kohr, Leitsch - Caci, Amiri, Sano, Mwene - Nebel, Lee - Hollerbach

Striker Hollerbach netted nine times for Union last term and is expected to fill the void left by the departing Burkardt, while Henriksen also has youngster Nelson Weiper to count on.

Predictions for the upcoming season

Mainz enter the 2024/25 campaign on a wave of optimism, with Henriksen’s clear tactical structure and strong dressing-room unity providing a solid foundation.

While the loss of Burkardt is a significant blow, the arrival of Hollerbach gives Die Nullfünfer a striker with proven Bundesliga pedigree, and his pressing ability should fit seamlessly into Henriksen’s system.

The midfield, led by Nadiem Amiri, offers a balance of industry and guile, while the wing-backs remain a key feature of Mainz’s dynamic play. Defensive depth, particularly with Kohr adapting as a centre-back, may be tested throughout a congested schedule, especially with the added burden of European competition.

A realistic target for Mainz will be consolidating their place in mid-table while pushing for another European finish. Much will depend on squad rotation and Henriksen’s ability to keep his side competitive across three fronts. Success in the UEFA Conference League play-off could provide a memorable European journey for supporters, though the Bundesliga will remain the top priority.

If Hollerbach adapts quickly, Mainz could once again punch above their weight and challenge for a top-six finish. However, with several rivals strengthening heavily, even a top-half finish would be a testament to Henriksen’s growing reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s most promising managers.

Projected finish: 8th–10th in the Bundesliga, with potential for a strong Conference League run if they progress past Rosenborg.