Foto: SV 98 16.07.2025 / English
Akiyama joins the Lilies on loan
SV 98 has strengthened its midfield: Hiroki Akiyama joins the Southern Hesse club on loan from Japanese first division club Albirex Niigata. The Lilies have also secured a purchase option. The 24-year-old has already travelled to the training camp in Bad Wörishofen.
Paul Fernie: „In Hiroki Akiyama, we’re gaining an absolute strategist for the centre of defence. His ball control and precision, his precise passing even under pressure, and his vision make him a suitable link player. With his skills, he has the potential to become an interesting piece of our team’s puzzle next season. The fact that he can at least participate in parts of the training camp will also make his integration into the team easier.“
Hiroki Akiyama: „I’m happy to be playing in Germany starting now. I would like to thank everyone involved in the move and who made it possible. I’ve been reading a lot about Darmstadt 98 recently and am looking forward to joining a club with a rich tradition and great fans. My goal is to help the team as best I can to have a successful season.“
Akiyama has played for Albirex Niigata since 2019. He became a fixture there, especially after returning from his loan spell at Kagoshima United in January 2022. After making 20 league appearances in the 2022 season (in Japan, the league runs from February to December), he made 26 appearances in Japan’s top flight in 2023. Last season, Akiyama played in all 36 league matches, captaining his team in 18 of them. In the current season, he has played 15 matches in the J1 League. Akiyama has played a total of 141 times for Albirex Niigata.
From now on, he will wear the jersey of the Lilies and wear the number 16.
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
„Showed as a team that we are fully on our game“
The Lilies remain unbeaten for the third consecutive home game, sharing the points with Bundesliga-relegated FC St. Pauli on Friday evening. Here is what was said after the match:
Points shared on Friday evening
No winner in the clash against the side relegated from the Bundesliga, Hamburg’s FC St. Pauli: after 90 hard-fought, intense minutes, the match ends 0–0 (0–0). The Lilies thus pick up their eighth point of the season.
Team News: Three Changes Against St. Pauli!
On the 9th matchday, SV 98 hosts FC St. Pauli. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting eleven following the defeat against KSC. Yannik Lührs, Noah Weißhaupt, and Fynn Lakenmacher come into the starting lineup, replacing Aleksandar Vukotic, Lance Duijvestijn, and Hojae Lee. Luca Marseiler, Fabian Nürnberger, Merveille Papela, Carlo Sickinger, and Yosuke Furukawa are all sidelined due to injury.
Matchday Guide: All Information for the St. Pauli Game
On Friday evening (October 23rd, 6:30pm), SV 98 will host FC St. Pauli for the 9th matchday of the season. What do both head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who will be officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we’ve put together all the essential information for the game against the Kiezkicker in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
“We have to provide the answer on the pitch”
SV 98 has had little time to process the defeat in Karlsruhe. An opportunity for redemption arrives as early as tomorrow, Friday (October 23rd, 6:30pm), against St. Pauli. Our head coach discussed, among other things, the upcoming opponent, the team’s strength at home, and potential changes to the starting lineup.
Opposition Check: St. Pauli
A floodlit match at the Böllenfalltor: On Friday evening (Oct 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98 will host FC St. Pauli as part of the ninth matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. But St. Pauli is no stranger to floodlit games—it was on just such a night back in 2002 that they earned themselves the unofficial title of "conquerors of the world club champions."
Organisational information for the home match against St. Pauli
For the upcoming home match on Friday (October 23rd, 2026, at 6:30pm), SV 98 asks that you take note of the following information.
Facts and Figures: Key facts about the St. Pauli match
Floodlights at the Bölle! On Friday (Oct 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98 will host FC St. Pauli for the 9th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. In our "Facts & Figures" section, you can discover what the two teams have in common, where they differ, and which statistics are particularly intriguing ahead of this clash.
Lilien name Holland honorary captain
Fabian Holland was honoured for his contributions to the Lilien during the general meeting on October 20. The members approved a proposal from the executive board, naming the long-time captain an honorary team captain amid a round of enthusiastic applause.
Live updates for the 2026 general meeting
On Tuesday evening (Oct 20th), the annual general meeting of SV 98 will take place at the Böllenfalltorhalle in Darmstadt. We will guide you through the evening here, providing continuous updates via this live ticker for the 2026 general meeting.
2026 General Meeting: “Forging new paths that suit the ‘Lilies’”
SV Darmstadt 98 held its ordinary general meeting on Tuesday, October 20. Approximately 396 club members attended the meeting at the sports hall at Böllenfalltor. Anne Baumann, the board member responsible for finance, reported a profit after tax of €0.05 million for the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with total revenue reaching €48.08 million. As of the end of the reporting period, the club’s equity stood at €26.16 million.
