Financial turmoil: Another significant entity departs Ludwigsburg on a national scale - Player Departs from Ludwigsburg's Roster on a National Level
In a significant shakeup for the German handball scene, Mareike Thomaier, a national handball player, has left HB Ludwigsburg and joined Bundesliga rivals HSG Bensheim/Auerbach. This move comes amidst financial turmoil for HB Ludwigsburg, who filed for insolvency on July 21, 2025, due to severe financial difficulties and the inability to secure sufficient funding for the upcoming season.
Thomaier, at 24 years old, is one of several national team players affected by the insolvency of HB Ludwigsburg. The club's inability to maintain player contracts has resulted in the players, including Thomaier, being released from their contracts due to the uncertainty. Other national teammates of Thomaier, such as Antje Döll (Sport-Union Neckarsulm) and Jenny Behrend (VFL Oldenburg), have already found new clubs. Xenia Smits, another teammate, has joined Metz Handball.
The insolvency of HB Ludwigsburg has created a ripple effect in the handball community, with several players seeking new clubs. The future of HB Ludwigsburg remains uncertain as the German Handball League (HBL) works to finalize a backup plan by Friday. The backup plan could potentially involve reassigning players from HB Ludwigsburg to other clubs to ensure the continuity of the Bundesliga season.
The signing of Thomaier by HSG Bensheim/Auerbach was described as a "clear message to the competition". Thomaier's departure from HB Ludwigsburg follows the insolvency filing, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the club's future participation in the upcoming Bundesliga season. The inability of HB Ludwigsburg to fulfill competition requirements and player contracts for the 2025/26 season has forced the German women's handball league (HBF) to exclude them from the 2025/26 EHF Champions League Women's competition and the German Handball Super Cup.
Thüringer HC has replaced HB Ludwigsburg in the Handball Super Cup scheduled for August 23, 2025. The club's disqualification from the 2025/26 EHF Champions League Women's competition and the German Handball Super Cup marks a significant blow to HB Ludwigsburg, who were the previous season’s Bundesliga champion. The HBL is taking active measures to address the situation and is working to ensure the continuity of the Bundesliga season, despite the challenges posed by HB Ludwigsburg's insolvency.
[1] Handball-Planet [2] Deutsche Welle [3] Sport1 [4] Süddeutsche Zeitung [5] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
- The financial turmoil faced by HB Ludwigsburg has led to a surge in community aid, as several national handball players, like Thomaier, are seeking new clubs to continue their careers.
- Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the Bundesliga season due to HB Ludwigsburg's insolvency, sports enthusiasts and media outlets alike, such as Handball-Planet, Deutsche Welle, Sport1, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, are following the situation closely to provide updates on potential solutions and player transfers.
