BERLIN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mainz 05 has confirmed the return of striker Sheraldo Becker to the Bundesliga, securing the 30-year-old on loan from Spanish side Osasuna as the club moved to reinforce its attacking options following an injury setback.
The agreement was finalized late in the transfer window after Mainz lost Benedict Hollerbach to a ruptured Achilles tendon, leaving the club short of attacking depth. Becker's arrival offers an experienced option for a side battling to remain in the top flight.
"Sheraldo Becker knows the league and the coach well. We are glad that we were able to find a solution at short notice that does not require a long adaptation period and that adds quality to our squad," said Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert.
Becker is reunited with head coach Urs Fischer, under whom he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career. The Suriname international played the vast majority of his Bundesliga matches under Fischer during his time at Union Berlin.
"I am happy that everything worked out so quickly and about returning to the Bundesliga. I played almost all of my Bundesliga matches under Urs Fischer and I am pleased to be working with him again. Now it is about collecting as many points as possible in the relegation battle," Becker said.
Between 2019 and 2024, Becker made 140 appearances for Union Berlin, scoring 24 goals. He left Germany in January 2024 to join Real Sociedad, where he played 37 league matches and scored four goals, while also making one appearance each in the Champions League and Europa League. Becker later moved to Osasuna in September, featuring nine times in La Liga without scoring.
Mainz hopes Becker's experience will prove valuable in the decisive months ahead of the season. The club sits 16th in the standings but has shown signs of improvement, winning three of its last four matches, and will look to build on that momentum when it faces 11th-placed Augsburg in the 21st round on Saturday.
