As the Bundesliga gears up for the new season, we at the Bundesliga Fanatic are looking at the players to watch ahead of the new campaign. For each club we bring you one key summer signing to keep an eye out for, as well as one up-and-coming young talent that could make a real impact this season.
SC Freiburg
Key Signing: Ermedin Demirovic
With Luca Waldschmidt sold to Benfica Freiburg signed 22-year-old Bosnian Ermedin Demirovic from Swiss side St Gallen and it is hoped that the striker can replicate his goal scoring form which saw him score 14 goals and add seven assists in his 28 appearances last season.
Despite his young age he has already played in Germany (RB Leipzig U-19), France (FC Sochaux) and Spain (Deportivo Alaves and UD Almeria). He’s a Bosnian U-21 international, who will now compete with Nils Petersen and Lucas Höler for playing time in Christian Streich’s side.
“Ermedin is a young player who has really developed in St. Gallen. He has all the attributes of a striker and brings a lot of energy and hunger to the pitch. This means that he will have every opportunity with us to take the next step” said Klemens Hartenbach, SC Freiburg’s sporting director.
Young Star: Yannik Keitel
20-year-old midfielder Yannik Keitel had quite the baptism last season when he made his debut last season on matchday 24. An injury to Janik Haberer required a Freiburg switch at half time and trainer Christian Streich had no qualms about sending on the youngster at the Signal Iduna Park against Borussia Dortmund in front of 80,000 fans.
His second appearance came as a starter in the penultimate game of the season at the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich, before he made his home debut a week later against Schalke. The youngster has shown he has both the ability and the maturity to cope with the Bundesliga and this season he’ll be looking to show what he can do on a more regular basis.
VfL Wolfsburg
Key Signing: Bartosz Bialek
Like many others, Wolfsburg have been quiet thus far in the transfer window, but they have moved to sign highly promising Polish youngster Bartosz Bialek from Zaglebie Lubin.
The 18-year-old score 9 goals and provided 4 assists in the Ekstraklasa last season as well as scoring 6 in the Polish 3.Liga. He will provide back up to Wout Weghorst and Daniel Ginczek having signed a four-year deal at the Volkswagen Arena.
“We’re very pleased to have signed a very talented player in Bartosz, who at a young age has already produced very good performances in the Polish topflight,” said VfL sporting director Marcel Schäfer.
“He’s young and fits our philosophy perfectly. We’re convinced he can take the next step in his development with us and will help us achieve our objectives in the coming years.”
Young Star: John Yeboah
After a successful loan spell in the Netherlands with VVV Venlo, Ghanaian winger John Yeboah has been recalled to join the Wolfsburg first team squad ahead of next season and big things are expected of the 20-year-old.
He made 18 Eredivisie appearances last season scoring once and adding an assist and can’t wait to get the new campaign underway. “My time in Holland was very educational for me. I’ll come back first and hope that I can stay” he recently told Kicker.
“I think I’ll get a chance, and then I have to show in the preparation that I’m ready. I just want to give everything.”
