Life after Burkardt: Can Mainz’s new-look attack fill the void?

When Jonathan Burkardt celebrated his 18th Bundesliga goal of the season on the final day – a strike that secured European football – it felt like the culmination of everything Mainz 05 had invested in their academy. An academy product turned captain, he gave the club something priceless: guaranteed goals. 

Now, after a summer move across to Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz are left facing a question no supporter wanted to ask – what does life after Burkardt look like?

Burkardt wasn’t just Mainz’s top scorer; he was their insurance policy. His 18 goals in 29 appearances made him the Bundesliga’s highest-scoring German last season. In the process, he overtook Karim Onisiwo to become the club’s leading Bundesliga scorer of all time. Across 136 league games for Die Nullfünfer, he struck 41 times – averaging a goal roughly every three matches.

For a side usually sitting in mid-table, that kind of output gave Mainz more than just points. It gave them belief that they could push higher.

But replacing Burkardt is about more than numbers. He embodied what Mainz fans value most: tireless pressing, relentless running, and an unwavering commitment to the cause. As a homegrown academy graduate, he carried the supporters’ work ethic onto the pitch – not just a striker, but one of their own. 

If there’s one player fans want to believe in, it’s Nelson Weiper. A towering 20-year-old and a local boy himself, he feels like the natural heir to Burkardt’s throne. Last season he scored three goals in 695 Bundesliga minutes – translating to 0.39 goals per 90. The sample size is small, but it hints at potential. He has impressed for Germany at U21 level and recently extended his contract until 2029.

That renewal, though, wasn’t straightforward. For a short time his future looked uncertain, with talk of a move away and his omission from fixtures against Dynamo Dresden and Rosenborg only fuelling speculation. In the end, all parties struck an agreement, and Mainz now have their target man tied down long term – ready to push on with his hometown club.