FC St. Pauli loses its first‑choice goalkeeper: Nikola Vasilj (30) signed a two‑year deal with Al Diriyah in Saudi Arabia on July 10, 2026. After 167 league appearances and a campaign that finds the club sitting 18th in the Bundesliga with 26 points (6W‑8D‑20L), he departs the Millerntor.

Why did Vasilj leave the club?

Vasilj terminated his contract after the relegation last season, a deal he had held since joining from Zorya Lugansk in 2021. Sporting director Andreas Bornemann recalled their time together in Nuremberg and noted that the 30‑year‑old goalkeeper sought new horizons after Bosnia‑Herzegovina’s World Cup exit against the USA (0:2). The move offers him financial security and a chance to play in an emerging league.

What does this mean for the goalkeeper situation?

FC St. Pauli now has to act quickly, as its depth between the sticks is already thin. The team has scored 29 goals while conceding 60 – a minus‑31 goal difference. Without Vasilj, the defence could struggle further, especially ahead of the upcoming away clash with Hannover 96 on October 17, 2026.

How does Vasilj’s new chapter look?

Al Diriyah, a newly promoted side in the Saudi First Division, completed Vasilj’s signing immediately after his medical in Hamburg. The contract runs for two years, with no transfer fee disclosed. For Vasilj, it marks a completely new personal and professional environment, offering the chance to shine in a different competitive setting.

What did Vasilj say himself?

In his farewell note Vasilj said: “It’s hard to say this, but there are moments in football when you have to move on. The club needs that and so do I. It’s very hard to leave this club.” His words underline the strong bond he built with the fans and the Millerntor.

FC St. Pauli sits 63 points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. The coming weeks will reveal whether the club can plug the gap in goal before the season’s fate is sealed.