Phillip Tietz, a 28-year-old German forward, has transferred to Mainz from Augsburg. According to reporter Peter Dörr, the forward is considered to improve the team's mood amid its personnel problems and is showing much optimism. Dörr also suggests there is a strong possibility the former Augsburg player will be in the starting lineup immediately, though it is unclear if he will play as the sole forward or with Amiri beside him. Tietz joined Mainz on January 2, 2026, for a reported fee of €4 million plus bonuses and signed a contract until June 2028. In the 2025/2026 season, he has scored one goal in 10 Bundesliga appearances for Augsburg. The forward has two caps for Germany's U20 team, a current Transfermarkt valuation of €3.50m, and was also recently linked with Kaiserslautern.