Hamburger SV has made two powerful moves in the transfer market, signing players of international calibre in Fabio Vieira and Zakaria El Ouahdi. This was reported by n-tv.de on Wednesday. The total estimated fee for both transfers is around 19 million euros. Vieira makes his loan from FC Arsenal permanent, while El Ouahdi joins from Belgian club KRC Genk.
The Rothosen are in 14th place in the Bundesliga after the first matchday. They have zero points from one loss and a goal difference of minus two. They are already three points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. The next opportunity to get points comes on September 6th in a home match against FSV Mainz 05, who are currently tenth. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
Who are the new players?
Fabio Vieira is already very familiar to HSV fans. The Portuguese midfielder spent last season on loan from Arsenal in Hamburg and became a key figure. With seven goals and five assists, he was instrumental in the club's survival. HSV has now triggered the purchase option and signed the player permanently for a fee of approximately nine million euros. His contract length was not officially disclosed.
Zakaria El Ouahdi is a 24-year-old Moroccan international born in Belgium. The attacking player joins from KRC Genk for a fee reported to be around ten million euros. El Ouahdi was part of Morocco's squad at the previous FIFA World Cup. His biggest career highlight so far was appearing as a substitute in the quarter-final against France, a match Morocco lost 2-0. It was his fourth international cap.
What role will they play in the current squad?
These signings demonstrate Hamburger SV's ambition to stabilise and strengthen the team after a difficult start to the season. Both players are expected to add more firepower to the attack. While Vieira is already integrated and can help immediately, El Ouahdi brings international experience and fresh energy. The current squad can be viewed on our squad page.
The exact contract lengths for both new signings have not been communicated by the club. Both players are considered long-term investments for the future of the team. They are meant to help get the goalless attack moving and relieve pressure on the defence.
What does this mean for the financial situation?
An investment of an estimated 19 million euros for two players is a clear signal. Hamburger SV is showing that despite the poor season start, it is willing to invest in the quality of the squad. The exact contract details and any potential bonus payments remain undisclosed. Such spending is significant for the recently promoted club and underscores the desire to establish itself in the Bundesliga.
The transfers were completed shortly before the end of the transfer window. They are the club's response to the weak performance on the first matchday. The team now needs to gel quickly to improve the negative goal difference. The current league standings can be followed on our standings page.
Hamburger SV's next match is against FSV Mainz 05 on September 6th, 2026, at the Volksparkstadion.
