Heidenheim almost pulled off a great escape last season. Frank Schmidt's side won three of five games and drew with Bayern 3-3 to stay alive heading into the final day. However, a 2-0 loss to Mainz doomed Heidenheim to relegation, as they finished 17th in the Bundesliga with just 26 points.
It marked the end of a memorable three-year spell in Germany's top flight. In their first top-flight season, Heidenheim qualified for Europe and even had a player called up for Germany's senior team when Julian Nagelsmann selected Jan-Niklas Beste in 2024.
However, the combination of player sales and competing in Europe hit the club hard, and Heidenheim finished 16th the following season. A late dramatic win over Elversberg in the promotion playoff kept the club in the Bundesliga, but only for one more season.
Heidenheim looked destined for relegation for much of last season and, despite the late surge, were always strong candidates to go down. Frank Schmidt now has the task of getting the club back to the top flight, but it won't be easy.
Several of Heidenheim's key contributors last season were on loan. Arijon Ibrahimović and goalkeeper Diant Ramaj have returned to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, respectively. Eren Dinkçi and Hennes Behrens both impressed after joining in January, but both have returned to their parent clubs, too, as has Leonidas Stergiou.
They aren't the only exits. Stefan Schimmer, who scored five goals last season, is off to Buriram United on a free transfer. Speedy full-back Omar Traoré also left on a free, heading to Udinese and then Watford in the same window. Midfield regular Niklas Dorsch moved to MLS with Toronto FC in a deal reportedly worth just under €4 million.
Thomas Keller and Kevin Müller joined Dynamo Dresden and Schalke 04, respectively, following their loans last season.
At the moment, Heidenheim have made just four first-team signings. All have joined from the 3. Liga, with the club continuing to scour Germany's lower leagues for talent.
Veteran goalkeeper Thomas Dähne has joined on a free transfer. He was a starter for 1860 Munich last season and reinforces a depleted goalkeeper room.
Right-back Oualid Mhamdi also joined on a free transfer. The 23-year-old scored ten goals and assisted eight with SC Verl last season and will hope to form a lethal partnership on the right with Marcel Costly, a 30-year-old forward who recorded 18 goals and nine assists last season with 1. FC Ingolstadt.
Heidenheim's final, and most expensive, signing so far has been Paul Hennrich. The 21-year-old winger cost €1.5 million, per Florian Plettenberg, after a season where the versatile forward scored nine goals and assisted four goals in the 3. Liga with Hoffenheim's reserves.
Heidenheim have been busy this summer, playing friendlies against clubs from across Europe.
The recent results have been promising, with Heidenheim winning three of five. The lone loss came in a 3-1 defeat to HSV, while Bologna was held to a 1-1 draw. Lower league sides TSV Nördlingen and SGM Langenau were pushed aside 9-0 and 12-0, respectively, while Heidenheim comfortably beat 3. Liga side Ingolstadt 4-1.
Heidenheim will field a much-changed lineup from last season and will have to trust certain players to step up. Among those players is goalkeeper Frank Feller, who made three Bundesliga appearances last season. With Ramaj and Müller's departures, he has a chance to break through.
Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):Feller - Mhamdi, Mainka, Gimber, Föhrenbach - Schöppner, Kerber - Hennrich, Beck, Honsak - Zivzivadze.
After losing so many key faces, it seems extremely unlikely that Heidenheim can win the 2. Bundesliga. It would be especially difficult in a year with several strong clubs like Wolfsburg in the second division this season.
However, this Heidenheim team is still extremely solid and, importantly, still has club legend Schmidt at the helm. The club needs the young stars in Feller, Mhamdi, and Hennrich to step up, but if they can show their ability and develop as regular starters, this is a team that should certainly be in the promotion hunt.
