Foto: SV 98 10.09.2026 / English
Transfer News: Richter returns to SV 98
A familiar face is returning to SV 98: The "Lilies" have signed Marco Richter. The 28-year-old previously played for the South Hessian club on loan last season. Richter had agreed to the termination of his contract with 1. FSV Mainz 05 on September 1st, making it possible to sign the attacking midfielder even after the transfer window had closed.
Paul Fernie: „We never lost touch with Marco after his loan spell ended, though we didn’t see a realistic opportunity to sign him during the transfer window. Following the change in his situation after his contract was terminated in Mainz, we stepped up our contact earlier this week and found a way to bring Marco back to Darmstadt. His qualities are undisputed, and he proved last season that he can be a key player for our team. We are therefore delighted to welcome Marco back into the fold.“
Marco Richter: „I’ve often said how comfortable I felt during my year with the Lilies. That’s why I never completely ruled out the idea of returning to Darmstadt, even though there were no concrete talks about it over the past few months. Various options opened up after the transfer window closed, but after speaking with Paul and Flo, I quickly realised that I saw my future with the Lilies. Now I’m really looking forward to sharing the pitch with familiar faces and getting to know the new players as soon as possible.“
Last season, Richter made 32 competitive appearances for SV 98, recording twelve goal involvements.
Born in Friedberg, he came up through the youth ranks at clubs including Bayern Munich and FC Augsburg. He broke into the first team at FCA, playing 102 competitive matches—97 of them in the Bundesliga. Between August 2021 and August 2024, Richter made another 79 top-flight appearances for Hertha BSC and 1. FSV Mainz 05. During the 2024/25 season, the right-footed player was on loan at Hamburger SV, featuring in 28 competitive matches.
Richter will wear the number 5 shirt.
Foto: SV 98 
A Victory for the Group
SV 98 finally secured their long-awaited victory on Friday evening. While the team from southern Hesse didn't exactly put on a dazzling display of football against Arminia Bielefeld, their pragmatic approach and strong mentality earned them three points. It was a success whose foundation had been laid in the preceding days.
„A huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders.“
The long-awaited three points are finally here! In a hard-fought but also disjointed match on Friday evening, Darmstadt showed character and didn't let setbacks get them down, even if not everything went perfectly during the 90 minutes. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Lilies finally secure their long-awaited three points!
A crucial home win for Darmstadt! SV Darmstadt 98 defeated Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 (1-0). Lee (3') gave the home side an early lead, and after the visitors from East Westphalia equalised, Smit (86') sealed the victory with a penalty.
Team News: Returning Richter Starts
Darmstadt host Arminia Bielefeld. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the defeat in Kaiserslautern. Carlo Sickinger starts in place of Hiroki Akiyama, who is out with a thigh injury. Returning player Marco Richter replaces Lars Kehl in the starting eleven, and Hojae Lee starts instead of Lance Duijvestijn.
Matchday Guide: All Information before the Bielefeld Game
Floodlight Friday! On Friday evening (Sept. 11, 6:30pm), SV 98 takes on Arminia Bielefeld in Matchday 5 action. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match? And where can you follow the game? As always, we’ve gathered all the key information about the match against Bielefeld for you in "Matchday Guide."
Fan Information: Arminia Bielefeld (H)
For the upcoming home match on Friday (September 11, 2026, at 6:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information. Starting this season, we are introducing dedicated entrances for women at the west side of the stadium. Additionally, there is a "Bölle Bande" family entrance offering easier access at Karl-Hess-Platz.
A counter-attack seals the deal.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team won 3-1 (0-0) against SV Rot-Weiss Walldorf. In a heated match, Patrick Kurt's team prevailed and remain undefeated at home.
„No doubt, but we must be aware of the situation.“
Ahead of the first evening match of the season against Arminia Bielefeld (September 11th, 6:30pm), our head coach Florian Kohfeldt spoke about returning player Marco Richter, the bond between fans and the team, and the upcoming opponent. We've summarised the most important points for you here:
Opposition Check: Arminia Bielefeld
Arminia Bielefeld hosted SV Arminia Hannover and delivered a performance that remains unmatched to this day. DSC Bielefeld swept aside their opponents with an 11-0 victory. It was not only an extraordinary rout, but also remains the biggest win in the history of the 2. Bundesliga.
Bundesliga schedules matchdays 7 to 13
On Thursday (September 10), the Bundesliga finalised the exact scheduling for Matchdays 7 through 13. For Matchday 7, we host Energie Cottbus on a Saturday. A week later, we travel on a Sunday to face Karlsruher SC at the Wildpark, before welcoming FC St. Pauli to the Böllenfalltor for a Friday evening match under the floodlights on Matchday 9. The following two matchdays—at home against Magdeburg and away in Nürnberg—are both scheduled for Saturdays. Matchdays 12 and 13 will subsequently take place on Friday evenings.
Ten-year anniversary: Sirigu remembers his derby goal
September 10th marks the tenth anniversary of a very special moment in the recent history of SV Darmstadt 98. During the Hessian derby against Eintracht Frankfurt on that day in 2016, Sandro Sirigu scored the decisive goal—and secured an unforgettable 1–0 home victory for the Lilien—shortly before the final whistle with a delivery that was actually intended as a cross. Ten years later, we spoke with him again about that special goal, his memories of his time at the Bölle, and his enduringly close connection to SV 98.
Facts & Figures: The top facts about the Bielefeld game
On Friday (September 11th), Arminia Bielefeld will be visiting the Böllenfalltor stadium. For two players, the match will be a reunion with their former club. Christopher Lannert will face Arminia for the first time since his move to Darmstadt, while Marvin Mehlem will be celebrating his birthday at the Bölle. Find out here what other connections exist between the two clubs and which statistics are particularly interesting ahead of the match.