Brisbane Roar Football Club can today confirm that local midfielder Sam Klein has signed for German Bundesliga Club FC St. Pauli, with the move including a significant transfer fee and a sell-on agreement that will see Brisbane Roar share in a future transfer of the player.
The deal represents one of the most significant outbound transfers in the club’s history and another example of the Brisbane Roar pathway delivering Queensland talent to the world’s biggest stages.
A Queensland Story
Klein grew up in Gympie, Queensland cutting his teeth in local football before progressing through the Football Queensland pathway. His performances earned Klein a call-up to the former Brisbane Roar Academy, the first chapter of a Roar journey that would not run in a straight line.
Leaving the club to chase his professional dream overseas, Sam took his game to Scandinavia in search of his next opportunity before returning home to sign with Gold Coast Knights in the NPL Queensland competition. It was there that Brisbane Roar again watched Sam closely, and in time the club brought Sam back into the fold via the Roar B Team, setting the stage for his second push at professional football in Australia.
In 2024/25 A-League Men’s season Klein made 19 appearances for the club, including 5 goals, before cementing his starting position in season 2025/26 with 25 appearances and 4 goals, combining work rate, physical profile and his technical qualities. It is that consistency that has now caught the eye of one of Europe’s top leagues.
Brisbane Roar Chief Operating Officer Zac Anderson said: “Sam’s move to FC St. Pauli today is a fantastic outcome for him, his family and for our football club. Sam is a Queenslander who has always supported the Roar, and that passion has shown through in his performances. Nothing has been given to Sam, he has had to work hard for every professional opportunity, and we couldn’t be happier to see one of our own progress to a top five league globally. This deal is important, as it’s another piece of evidence that Brisbane Roar is a genuine springboard for young Queensland and Australian talent to reach the top of the world game.”
Sam Klein said, “To go from playing football in Gympie to running out for a club like FC St. Pauli is something I never imagined would happen. I owe an enormous amount to Brisbane Roar, the coaches, the staff and the supporters who backed me from day one. This club gave me my chance and I will always be grateful for it.
”To the fans, your support week in, week out has meant the world. The Roar is where I started and you’ll always hold a special place in my heart.”
Brisbane Roar will continue to invest in identifying, developing and promoting Queensland talent through its B Team and senior men’s program. Today also marks day one for the club’s new Sporting Director, James Gow, reinforcing the strategic focus and ambition behind a stronger men’s program.
Everyone at Brisbane Roar wishes Sam, his family and his new teammates at FC St. Pauli all the very best of success into the future.
