Dimitar Mitov Joins St. Pauli as New No.1 Goalkeeper
St. Pauli have moved decisively to solve their goalkeeping question, signing Aberdeen’s Dimitar Mitov on a three-year deal.
The Hamburg club confirmed the transfer on Thursday morning. According to Transfermarkt, the fee for Aberdeen’s first-choice keeper sits at around €400,000.
From relegation blow to rebuild in goal
Relegation to the 2. Bundesliga triggered a reshuffle between the posts at the Millerntor.
Nikola Vasilj, long-established as St. Pauli’s number one, chose not to extend his expiring contract and instead joined Saudi Pro League newcomers Al-Diriyah. His departure left a sizeable gap and opened the door for Ben Voll to start the club’s first game back in the second tier, a draw against Greuther Fürth.
That audition looks to have been brief. Mitov, a 15-time Bulgarian international, is now expected to move straight to the front of the queue ahead of the former Köln keeper.
Aberdeen success and a cup final starring role
Mitov arrives with a strong résumé and a recent season that turned heads in Scotland.
The 29-year-old, who previously played for Cambridge United and St. Johnstone FC, became Aberdeen’s starting goalkeeper in each of his first two campaigns at Pittodrie. A hamstring injury sidelined him for months in his debut season, but once fit he helped drive the Dons to a sensational 2024/25.
Aberdeen opened their Premiership campaign with a blistering run of 12 wins and a draw, then capped it with their first Scottish Cup triumph since 1990. Mitov stood at the heart of that success, saving two penalties in the final against Celtic and finishing the season with 42 appearances in all competitions.
Rapp’s new last line of defence
St. Pauli coach Marcel Rapp made it clear why the club pushed to bring Mitov to Hamburg.
“Dimitar has very good qualities on the line and can solve even difficult situations due to his dynamism and explosiveness,” Rapp said. “At the same time, he actively defends the space and conveys a lot of peace and security. We look forward to working with him and integrating him into our processes.”
Shot-stopping, aggression off his line, and a calming presence – it is the profile of a keeper signed to start, not to rotate.
Mitov’s mission in Hamburg
Mitov, fresh from a trophy-winning season in Scotland, now swaps Pittodrie’s granite backdrop for the intensity of the Millerntor.
“I am very much looking forward to FC St. Pauli and the new league,” he said in his first interview as a St. Pauli player. “The discussions with those responsible convinced me of a cooperation. I want to quickly integrate with the team, contribute my experience, and be successful together with the entire team to achieve the goals of the club.”
St. Pauli have their new anchor at the back. The question now is whether Mitov can turn stability in goal into the platform for an immediate push back toward the Bundesliga.
