Hartberg Sells Goalkeeper Hülsmann to Reims for Record Fee

For the German goalkeeper as well, the move represents a step up in his career. Hülsmann had arrived at Hartberg from Bayern Munich a year ago, but immediately established himself as the undisputed first-choice keeper at the Styrian club. According to reports, part of the fee will flow back to FC Bayern, who had originally developed the player. In Reims, Hülsmann has signed a contract until 2031.

Record Fee for Styria

At the traditional French club, Hülsmann is succeeding Ewen Jaouen. The 20-year-old French Polynesian had failed in the past season with a view to the targeted return to the top flight, but brought the club 21.5 million euros through his sale. Stade Reims can therefore afford the lavish goalkeeper swap – and is apparently planning Hülsmann as the clear number one.

This is also confirmed by Hülsmann's advisor Frank Schreier, who looks after the player together with Georg Lederer: They had deliberately chosen Reims from a range of offers because Hülsmann there „als Nummer eins eingeplant ist" – unlike, for instance, in competition situations with a 21-million-euro man like Jaouen. The Frenchman had briefly been considered as a potential backup.

Hülsmann himself spoke of a convincing project presentation by the French club. „Das Projekt hat mich sofort überzeugt. Mein Ziel ist es nun, mein bestes Niveau zu erreichen, den Fans alle meine Qualitäten zu zeigen und mit der Mannschaft so hoch wie möglich zu kommen", said the 22-year-old. He also added that he had very good memories of Hartberg as he said goodbye.

Reactions from Hartberg and Reims

Hartberg's chairman and managing director Erich Korherr expressed pride in his protégé's development. Hülsmann had „eine überragende Saison gespielt und sich als äußerst kompletter Torhüter präsentiert". „Dieser Transfer zeigt einmal mehr, welche Möglichkeiten sich Spielern mit starken Leistungen in Hartberg eröffnen", Korherr added.

At the same time, Korherr announced that the club was already intensively searching for a suitable successor for the „wichtige Position im Tor". Even before that, there had been movement in the squad of last season's sixth-placed Bundesliga side with the recent transfer of Konstantin Schopp; coach Manfred Schmid oversees a 29-man squad.

The transfer is part of a remarkable summer transfer window for Austrian clubs on the selling front. According to consistent reports, around 50 million euros in fees have once again been pocketed this summer alone; last year, the figure was even over 80 million euros. The Bundesliga is thus increasingly becoming an attractive shopping source for foreign scouts – not just in France.

Reims as Repeat Offender

Stade Reims is, in any case, a familiar acquaintance as a buyer from Austria. Only recently, the club signed Japanese winger Keito Nakamura from LASK for 12 million euros. From Ligue 2, Nakamura then went to the World Cup in the USA, where he featured as a regular starter on the left wing for the Japanese national team.

Following the recent income from the Jaouen sale, Reims has a total market value of 13.90 million euros and thus sufficient financial leeway to tie down the German keeper on a long-term basis. Coach Nicolas Usaï, who oversees a 24-man squad, had recently welcomed Abdoul Koné as the latest transfer signing.

For Hülsmann, the move represents a leap into a second division that is widely regarded as one of the strongest in Europe in terms of playing quality. France's Ligue 2 is regularly the second-highest-paying second tier on the continent behind the English Championship and is considered a springboard for later moves to the top flight. The contract until 2031 gives both sides planning security.

Outlook on the Reims Contract

From Hartberg's perspective, the circle of a successful exploitation is closing: having signed Hülsmann a year ago on a free transfer from Bayern Munich and developed him in Styria into the best goalkeeper in the league, they are now collecting a fee that will take the club forward both sporting and economically. The model of "developing players and selling them profitably" is working.

Hülsmann himself looked back gratefully as he departed: „Ich bin Hartberg sehr dankbar für das vergangene Jahr. Jetzt freue ich mich auf die neue Herausforderung in Reims und werde Hartberg immer in sehr guter Erinnerung behalten." Looking to the future, he only wished the club the very best, added the shot-stopper, whose market value had been estimated at 1.50 million euros before the transfer.

The final farewell from Hartberg is also a symbolic one: with Hülsmann, perhaps the most defining player of last season is leaving the club. The TSV management now faces the task of handling the proceeds wisely not only sporting but also economically – and at the same time finding a successor who can step into the 22-year-old's shoes.