Mainz 05 announced on Wednesday that South Korean midfielder Hong Hyun-sik will join Nantes on a season-long loan. His loan fee is reportedly €300,000, with a buyout clause of €3.5 million.

Regarding the loan, Mainz sporting director Nico Bongert explained: "For Hong Hyun-sik, getting regular playing time is crucial. Due to the fierce competition within the team, it was difficult for him to get enough playing opportunities at Mainz. For this reason, we agreed to loan him to Nantes Football Club. The Nantes coach knows him very well, and this loan is in line with Hong Hyun-sik's own wishes, so we did not put any obstacles in his way. We wish him all the best in France and look forward to his return to the Mevar Arena next summer in an even stronger state."

Nantes said that Hong Hyun-sik will wear the No. 7 jersey next season.

The 26-year-old Hong Hyun-seok, a graduate of Ulsan HD's youth academy, made his professional debut for Unterhaching in the Bavarian Cup on August 15, 2018. He subsequently played for Boschen, LASK Linz, and Gent before joining Mainz 05 for €4 million in August 2024.

To date, Hong Hyun-seok has played 23 games for Mainz, with only four of them starting. He has also failed to score a goal and has only provided one assist.