Darmstadt complete Niklas Schmidt loan, Kaiserslautern recruit Bulgarian full-back

Both Darmstadt and Kaiserslautern have been busy in the market and made loan signings official this afternoon.

Niklas Schmidt re-united with Kohfeldt at Darmstadt

Niklas Schmidt is returning to his former coach Florian Kohfeldt, leaving FC Toulouse to sign on loan with SV Darmstadt 98.

The deal – a six month loan until the end of the season – also includes an option to buy the 27-year-old from the Ligue 1 side. 

Schmidt moved from Werder Bremen, where he made 34 appearances under Kohfeldt, to Toulouse in 2023 for €2.5million.

He has since made 39 appearances for the French club, however, most of these came in his first season.

At the beginning of 2025, he suffered a cruciate ligament tear that sidelined him for a full year and only made his comeback a few days ago.

Kaiserslautern acquire new Bulgarian full-back

Meanwhile, 1.FC Kaiserslautern have signed a new left-back in Atanas Chernev on loan from CF Estrella Amadora.

The Portuguese first-division side has reportedly given Kaiserslautern reportedly an option to buy him permanently for €1.2million.

So far this campaign, the 23-year-old has made 16 appearances across all competitions, playing a total of 1,093 minutes.

The Bulgarian international (two caps) is the second winter signing for the Palatinate club, following striker Norman Bassette.