Mainz 05 officially announced on Tuesday the signing of Democratic Republic of Congo winger Silas Katonpa Mwynpa from Stuttgart. He will wear the number 26 jersey for Mainz, and the specific contract length has not yet been disclosed.

Born in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 27-year-old Silas made his professional debut for Paris FC in Ligue 2 on August 31, 2018. Since joining Stuttgart in August 2019, he has made 132 appearances in all competitions, scoring 35 goals and providing 21 assists.

However, Silas has been dropped by Stuttgart this season. His last appearance for Stuttgart was in the German Super Cup against Bayer Leverkusen on August 17, 2024, before being loaned out to Serbian club Red Star Belgrade the following month.

All indications suggest that Silas' primary task after joining the team is to help Mainz 05 avoid relegation. Mainz currently sits at the bottom of the Bundesliga with a record of 1 win, 5 draws, and 9 losses, accumulating 8 points and remaining 4 points away from safety.

If Mainz manages to avoid relegation, Silas' transfer fee will increase from the current six figures to €1 million. He also voluntarily accepted a pay cut to facilitate the deal, and his future annual salary is expected to be significantly lower than his previous €2.5 million at Stuttgart.

Regarding Silas's signing, Mainz sporting director Nico Bungert commented: "We are very pleased to have successfully signed Silas. His signature speed, one-on-one ability, and goal threat have been fully demonstrated during his time at Stuttgart. Silas is an important addition to our squad, and he will bring new changes to our attacking system."

Silas himself stated, "I am very much looking forward to showcasing my abilities with Mainz 05 in the future. The discussions with the club went very smoothly, and both sides respected each other during the talks. I am eager to return to the Bundesliga and can't wait to start the new season."