St Pauli Rivals Sanction Double Exit Ahead Of Bundesliga Clash

FC Augsburg have confirmed that Steve Mounie and Yusuf Kabadayi will both spend the season in Turkey after sealing loan moves to Alanyaspor and Gaziantep FK respectively.

The Bundesliga side announced the deals ahead of their clash with St Pauli, trimming the first-team squad to 29 professionals.

Mounie Departs for Alanyaspor

Benin international Mounie leaves after scoring in Augsburg’s opening-round DFB-Pokal win over Hallescher FC but failing to secure a regular role under head coach Sandro Wagner. The striker, valued at around €2m, was close to a loan move to Angers before talks broke down. Instead, he now joins Alanyaspor for the campaign, with reports in Germany suggesting Augsburg will receive a €100,000 loan fee. No purchase option has been included in the agreement.

Sporting director Benni Weber explained the decision, stating that Mounie wanted to play consistently to maintain his national team ambitions. “We couldn’t give him that guarantee at FCA. With the move to Turkey, we have found a good solution for everyone involved and wish him every success,” Weber said.

Kabadayi Secures Gaziantep Switch

Germany U20 international Kabadayi, formerly of Bayern Munich’s academy, also heads out after a difficult debut year at Augsburg. Signed for €1m last summer, the attacking midfielder made only five substitute appearances, though he did score on his Bundesliga debut against Heidenheim in September 2024.

His progress was hampered by a serious knee injury and an investigation that ultimately led to no charges. With fitness regained, Kabadayi will spend the season with Gaziantep FK, who have negotiated a purchase option as part of the agreement.

Weber stressed the importance of the move for the 21-year-old’s career: “After his injury layoff, Yusuf now has the opportunity to gain playing experience in the Turkish Süper Lig through his loan to Gaziantep FK. We wish him a successful and, above all, injury-free season in Turkey.”

Site Opinion

For Augsburg, the double departure reflects both a squad streamlining process and an attempt to protect the development of players struggling for minutes. Mounie, despite flashes of quality, was clearly not central to Wagner’s plans, while Kabadayi requires a run of games to rebuild his career after an interrupted first season. Turkey provides both with the chance to play regularly, and Augsburg will be monitoring closely to see if either returns stronger.

With the Bundesliga campaign still in its infancy, the club’s willingness to sanction these loans shows trust in the remaining options, but also underlines the pressure on Augsburg’s recruitment team to ensure their reduced group can cope with the demands ahead.