FC Augsburg have made a late squad change ahead of the Bundesliga season opener, signing South Korean international Young-Woo Seol. The club also allowed defender Keven Schlotterbeck to depart for English Championship side Southampton, as reported by DIE ZEIT on Wednesday. These moves reshape Augsburg's defensive options just days before their first league match.
Who is new defender Young-Woo Seol?
Young-Woo Seol joins from Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade. The 27-year-old South Korean signed a contract until June 30, 2030, and has already trained with his new teammates. Seol was part of South Korea's squad for a World Cup, bringing international experience. Both clubs agreed to keep the transfer details confidential. For Augsburg, who finished ninth last season with 43 points from 34 games, this is a long-term defensive reinforcement. Their record was 12 wins, 7 draws, and 15 losses.
Why did Keven Schlotterbeck leave FCA?
Keven Schlotterbeck leaves FC Augsburg after two years and 49 competitive appearances. The 29-year-old brother of Germany international Nico Schlotterbeck originally joined from SC Freiburg in the summer of 2024. His Augsburg contract had one year remaining. Sporting director Benni Weber explained the decision: "Keven always communicated openly with us that he wanted to take a step abroad in his career." The departure came shortly before the Bundesliga opener against Schalke 04. In his final match, the DFB-Pokal game against Energie Cottbus a week ago, Schlotterbeck wore the captain's armband.
What does the transfer mean financially for Augsburg?
Schlotterbeck's move generates a transfer fee for FC Augsburg. Reports suggest the fee, including possible bonuses, could reach up to 4.5 million euros. These funds can be used for further reinforcements or budget planning. The club ended last season with a goal difference of -16, having scored 45 and conceded 61. They finished 46 points behind champions Bayern Munich. The current squad roster is available on our squad page.
What's next for Augsburg on the pitch?
With these defensive changes, Augsburg now focus on the season start. Their first Bundesliga match is this weekend. The next challenge is an away fixture at Eintracht Frankfurt on September 6th. Frankfurt finished eighth last season. Augsburg's complete schedule for the coming months can be found on our fixtures page. Integrating Young-Woo Seol into the team will be a priority for manager ??? to stabilize a defense that conceded too many goals last campaign. The current standings table shows their starting position for the new season.
