Midfielder Mathias Rasmussen, 28, has transferred from Union Saint-Gilloise to St. Pauli to help the club remain in the Bundesliga. The Kiez club announced the deal hours after their derby against HSV. Rasmussen was an unused substitute in Union's Champions League match against Bayern München three days before the transfer. The transfer reunites the Norwegian player with St. Pauli coach Alexander Blessin. Rasmussen played under Blessin at the Belgian club during their cup-winning 2023/24 season. Blessin stated that Rasmussen provides structure to the midfield, can dictate the tempo, and offers a crucial balance between defensive reliability and offensive play. The signing is also a response to uncertainty about the fitness of captain Jackson Irvine. A transfer fee was necessary because Rasmussen's contract with Union was valid until 2027. The fee is expected to be around his €2.5 million market value. The player said he was looking forward to the Bundesliga and St. Pauli's intense style of football. He added that talks with the club's officials were convincing and made him feel the move was the right step for him. In the current season, Rasmussen made 16 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League, scoring two goals and providing one assist. The midfielder has three caps for the Norway U21 team and had also been linked with Ludogorets and OH Leuven. A bid from OH Leuven was reportedly rejected in August 2025. Rasmussen joined Union Saint-Gilloise from Brann in July 2023 for a €1.2 million fee.