The summer transfer window is always a hectic period with all Bundesliga clubs looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season. Some clubs do their business early on, whereas others wait until the end of the window to snap up some late bargains. Here we analyse the best potential signings made by each of the 18 Bundesliga clubs so far……
Borussia Mönchengladbach
This is a season of transition for the Foals and with the departures of Marcus Thuram and Jonas Hofmann, a new source of goals needs to be found. In Czech striker Tomas Cvancara, Gladbach think they have found the solution. The 22-year-old striker arrives in Germany fresh from having helped Sparta Prague to the Czech league title last season. He scored 12 goals and provided three assists in a whirlwind season that also saw him earn his first call up to the international squad. He made the step up with ease scoring a debut goal in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Poland.
At 1.90m tall he certainly has the look of a traditional central striker, but he is deceptively quick. In many ways he looks to be the ideal replacement for Thuram as he is not averse to dropping deep and then beating defenders with his forward runs and also goes wide to provide crosses from the right.
Köln
This proposed transfer embargo on the Geißböcke could have been far worse, but the club were lucky that they had already agreed and announced the signing of left back Leart Paqarada from St. Pauli. The Kosovan international (who also represented Germany at U-16 and U-17 level) looks an excellent replacement for club legend Jonas Hector and his marauding style is sure to be a hit with the Köln fans. He ranked second overall in the 2.Bundesliga last season for both assists (ten) and crosses from open play (144)- something that target man Davie Selke should be able to thrive on.
Hoffenheim
If one player looked like they were going to be the one to save Schalke from the dreaded drop last season then it was Marius Bülter. The former Union Berlin attacker scored eleven goals with eight of them coming in the Rückrunde as the Königsblauen looked to stage an unlikely rescue mission. The sale of Christoph Baumgart to RB Leipzig has seen the loss of a key attacker, but in the 30-year-old Bülter they have an experienced replacement to add thrust to TSG frontline.
Werder Bremen
When the news dropped that Werder had made Naby Keita their first signing of the season from Liverpool, there were more than one or double takes and astonished eyes with Guinean swapping Anfield for the Weser Stadion. His time at Liverpool was marred by injuries, but he still arrives with a Premier League winners medal, a Champions League medal, an FA Cup medal as well as a League Cup and World Club Cup medal.
It’s unlikely he will hit the heights he did in his previous spell with RB Leipzig, but his experience and presence alone will push Werder forward- injuries permitting!
VfL Bochum
Having been a stand-out player in the 2.Bundesliga last season Moritz-Broni Kwarteng gets the chance to show what he can do in the Bundesliga following his €1.1 million move from Magdeburg. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder can operate both centrally, on either flank as well as being able to play as a striker giving Bochum real options. He scored ten goals last season in the second tier and the hope is that he can carry on his stellar career progression following his move to the Ruhr club.
Augsburg
The departure of fan favourite Rafal Giekiewicz from Augsburg left a big hole in the side, but the club have finally signed their long-term target for the number one shirt in Mainz’s Finn Dahmen. Having been forced to play second fiddle to Robin Zentner for too long the 24-year-old felt it was time to assert himself as a number one and find regular playing time. He made his professional debut against Bayern Munich in January 2021.
VfB Stuttgart
The Swabians were unhappy with both their goalkeeping options last season, but coach Sebastian Hoeneß will certainly be happy with the club’s signing of Alexander Nübel from Bayern. Unprepared to be Manuel Neuer’s deputy at Bayern, Nübel spent two seasons on loan in France with Monaco, but is keen to prove himself back in the Bundesliga.
He is still only 26, and it is hard to imagine VfB Stuttgart getting a better option in to replace Florian Müller and Fabian Bredlow.
1FC Heidenheim
There are players in the 2.Bundesliga, who you just think would do well in the top tier just given the opportunity and that is a case in point with Marvin Pieringer, who now gets that chance with Heidenheim. He scored ten goals for Paderborn last season and looks like he could be the perfect foil for Tim Kleindienst at his new club. Marvin Ducksch made the leap last season from second tier to Bundesliga and Pieringer will be looking to do just the same.
Darmstadt
With all of the attention on Bayern Munich signing Harry Kane this summer, the arrival of another British striker to the Bundesliga has (perhaps understandably) gone under the radar. The departure of Darmstadt’s top scorer Philipp Tietz means that Fraser Hornby has big boots to fill, but it is a challenge he more than up for. The 23-year-old scored eight goals in 21 Belgian League appearances for KV Oostende last season and has been a regular scorer for Scotland’s U-21 side with ten goals in eighteen matches.
