Mainz midfielder Paul Nebel set to miss start of the season

Mainz have confirmed that Paul Nebel will miss the start of both the 2026/27 DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga seasons after suffering an adductor injury during the club’s final training session of their pre-season camp in Austria.

The 23-year-old went down holding the left side of his groin and received treatment from the medical staff on the pitch. After undergoing an initial assessment on the sidelines, Nebel was able to leave the session with only a slight limp, but subsequent examinations have now confirmed the setback.

In a statement, Mainz revealed that the midfielder will “not be available in the coming weeks. The exact duration of his absence will depend on the individual healing process.”

Mainz begin their competitive campaign with a DFB-Pokal trip to Krieschow before kicking off their Bundesliga season at home against newly promoted Paderborn, with Nebel now set to miss at least those opening fixtures.