Stade de Reims are nearing the acquisition of goalkeeper Tom Ritzy Hülsmann from Austrian side TSV Hartberg. The French club are expected to pay between €2.5 million and €3 million for the 22-year-old, who has agreed to terms on a five-year contract according to reports from Le Parisien.
The move comes as Reims urgently seek a replacement for Ewen Jaouen, who recently completed a high-profile transfer to Newcastle United for a fee approaching €30 million. That departure set a Ligue 2 record for a goalkeeper, leaving a significant void between the posts at the Stade Auguste-Delaune and prompting the club to search for a successor.
Austrian Bundesliga’s standout performer
Hülsmann arrives with strong credentials following an impressive single season in the Austrian Bundesliga. The Bayern Munich academy graduate was named the league’s best goalkeeper for the 2025-26 campaign after helping Hartberg secure a respectable sixth-place finish.
During his 33 appearances for the Styrian club, the German shot-stopper kept 10 clean sheets while conceding 42 goals across all competitions. Having only joined Hartberg last summer from Bayern’s youth system, his rapid development and subsequent recognition as the division’s standout goalkeeper demonstrate his considerable potential at the top level. The award capped a remarkable first year in senior football for the young keeper.
Record deal for Hartberg
The transfer represents a significant financial milestone for TSV Hartberg. At an estimated €2.5 million to €3 million, the deal will constitute the largest transfer in the Austrian club’s history, marking a substantial return on their investment after just twelve months.
For Reims, the outlay secures a long-term successor to Jaouen with proven top-flight experience and training pedigree from one of Europe’s most renowned academies. The Trier-born goalkeeper will now look to establish himself in Ligue 1 following his breakthrough season abroad, bringing the shot-stopping ability and command of the area that earned him individual accolades in Austria.
The completion of the deal would provide Reims with much-needed stability in goal as they prepare for the new campaign, while offering Hülsmann the opportunity to test himself in one of Europe’s major leagues after proving his capabilities in the Austrian top flight.