Former Gympie and Sunshine Coast soccer player Sam Klein has signed a deal to play in the German Bundesliga.
The 22 year-old Brisbane Roar midfielder has signed with FC St Pauli which is currently second last on the Bundesliga ladder.
Klein grew up in Gympie and also played junior football on the Sunshine Coast before progressing through the Football Queensland pathway.
His performances earned him a call-up to the former Brisbane Roar Academy.
He left the club to chase his professional dream overseas in Scandinavia in search of his next opportunity before returning home to sign with Gold Coast Knights in the NPL Queensland competition.
The Brisbane Roar monitored his progress and brought him back via the club’s B Team.
In the 2024/25 A-League season Klein made 19 appearances for the club, including 5 goals, before cementing his starting position this season with 25 appearances and 4 goal.
His move to FC St Pauli includes a significant transfer fee and a sell-on agreement that will see Brisbane Roar share in a future transfer.
The deal represents one of the most significant outbound transfers in the club’s history
Sam Klein said, “To go from playing football in Gympie to running out for a club like FC St. Pauli is something I never imagined would happen.
“I owe an enormous amount to Brisbane Roar, the coaches, the staff and the supporters who backed me from day one. This club gave me my chance and I will always be grateful for it.
”To the fans, your support week in, week out has meant the world. The Roar is where I started and you’ll always hold a special place in my heart,” Klein said.
Brisbane Roar Chief Operating Officer Zac Anderson, who is also a Sunshine Coast local, said “Sam’s move to FC St. Pauli is a fantastic outcome for him, his family and for our football club.
“Sam is a Queenslander who has always supported the Roar, and that passion has shown through in his performances.
“Nothing has been given to Sam, he has had to work hard for every professional opportunity, and we couldn’t be happier to see one of our own progress to a top five league globally.
“This deal is important, as it’s another piece of evidence that Brisbane Roar is a genuine springboard for young Queensland and Australian talent to reach the top of the world game,” Anderson said.
