Key Facts at a Glance
- Personnel Note: Kay Seidemann (25) leaves FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
- Background: Persistent fan protests due to his Rot-Weiß Erfurt past and disciplinary problems.
- Trigger: Lack of fitness and a missed training camp sealed his departure.
- Future: Rumors link the player to BSG Chemie Leipzig.
Jena (09.02.2026) – It is the end of a misunderstanding that was under a bad star from the very beginning. FC Carl Zeiss Jena and midfielder Kay Seidemann are parting ways, effective immediately. As the club confirmed, the 25-year-old’s contract was terminated by mutual consent. This brings to an end a personnel chapter that had divided the environment at the Kernberge for over a year and a half.
A transfer with a heavy burden
When former sporting director Stefan Böger brought the attacking player to Jena in the summer of 2024, skepticism was high. The reason was not sporting, but historical: Seidemann had made disparaging comments about FC Carl Zeiss during his time with arch-rivals Rot-Weiß Erfurt. The Südkurve did not forget.
Rejection from parts of the active fan scene accompanied Seidemann at almost every appearance. While the rest of the stadium tried to support the player with expressions of solidarity, he was barred from joining the fans in the Kurve after victories—a bizarre-looking situation that caused constant unrest within the club.
Sporting decline after a good start
Despite the adverse circumstances, Seidemann initially performed well. In his debut season, he impressed with ten goals and five assists in 24 appearances. However, since last summer, the tide turned on the pitch as well. According to reports, the player was increasingly absent from training, which prompted sporting director Miroslav Jovic to intervene personally and sometimes pick Seidemann up from home.
The low point was reached at the beginning of this year: due to a lack of fitness, Seidemann missed the winter training camp in Turkey. Instead, the coaching team led by Volkan Uluc prescribed an individual training program in Jena. However, even this measure apparently bore no fruit. After Seidemann again reported sick and was not in the squad for the friendly win against Plauen, those in charge have now pulled the ripcord.
What happens next?
For FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the contract termination means one thing above all: peace within the club. The issue, which weighed heavily on the team and fans alike, is off the table. Meanwhile, for Kay Seidemann, things could continue seamlessly in the Regionalliga Nordost. According to current information, the 25-year-old is close to an agreement with league rivals Chemie Leipzig. Whether he can find his old strength there remains to be seen in the second half of the season.
We wish FC Carl Zeiss Jena full focus on the sporting side for the remainder of the season.