Johannes Golla Seeks Flensburg Return Citing Mental Health

German men’s national handball team captain Johannes Golla has publicly expressed a desire to return from MT Melsungen to SG Flensburg-Handewitt, citing health issues and concerns regarding his mental well-being, as reported on October 4, 2026.

Johannes Golla Requests Flensburg Return

The 28-year-old pivot publicly addressed his desire to leave his current club just months after joining the North Hessian side. People who know me well have längst seen that I am not doing well and that it is meanwhile no longer just homesickness, but my mental health is seriously endangered, Golla wrote.

Golla originally joined MT Melsungen in the summer following a transfer agreement finalized in December 2024. He admitted that his decision to sign the contract with Melsungen was premature, noting that his and his family’s living circumstances have changed since that time. His current contract with the Champions-League participant runs until the summer of 2031.

Club Officials Address Contract Status

Flensburg sports director Ljubomir Vranjes stated that the club fully supports Golla in his discussions with MT Melsungen. Naturally we support Johannes, Vranjes told the streaming service Dyn following a Bundesliga match against Frisch Auf Göppingen. It would be strange if we didn’t do that. He is a legend in our club.

Melsungen sports board member Jesper Larsson addressed the situation by emphasizing the existing contract terms. We naturally have to sit down again and see what potential solutions there might be, Larsson said. The fact is that Johannes has a contract here with MT until 2031, and what comes out of that in the end, we just have to see. Larsson added that initial talks with SG Flensburg-Handewitt did not involve any specific buyout figures.

Golla Prioritizes Mental Health to Ensure Athletic Performance

Golla noted that while he has always fulfilled his contracts in the past, he currently finds himself in a situation where doing so appears impossible. He stressed that peak athletic performance requires comprehensive personal well-being. I can only give one hundred percent if I am doing well, Golla wrote. And I can only be doing well if I — as a human being and not just as a professional athlete — pay attention not only to my physical, but also to my mental health, acknowledge my mistakes, stand up for myself and my family, and give everything to actively help shape my future.

Further developments depend on upcoming talks between SG Flensburg-Handewitt and MT Melsungen regarding a potential resolution to the contract.