The winter transfer window has officially closed with the 18 Bundesliga clubs now having to make do with the players they have until the end of the season. As per usual, there was plenty of last-minute transfer activity as Germany’s finest looked to add some quality to their ranks at the end of the transfer period. Here’s a round-up of all the latest comings and goings……
Bayer Leverkusen
The injury to Victor Boniface, which will keep him out of action longer than the previously envisioned time due to the African Cup of Nations saw Bayer move in the window to sign a back-up striker to Patrik Schick. The Werkself signed Spanish striker Borja Iglesias on an initial loan with an option to buy.
Bayern Munich
The Rekordmeister’s hand was forced somewhat in the winter transfer window, with the squad looking thin on the ground due to international commitments and an injury crisis. Many of the names being linked with the Bavarians didn’t materialise (Kieran Trippier, Nordi Mukiele, Steven Bergwijn), while the club didn’t go back in for a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Eric Dier was signed from Tottenham, while €30 million was splashed out on French right back Sacha Boey from Galatasaray. A serious knee injury to Kingsley Coman also led Bayern to bring winger Bryan Zaragoza in from Granada earlier than the planned-summer transfer that was previously agreed. The club also signed 16-year-old Swedish talent Jonah Kusi-Asare, who will go into the U-19 squad.
VfB Stuttgart
The Swabians only made one signing in the transfer window with the arrival of Mahmoud Dahoud from Brighton on loan. His time in the Premier League hasn’t exactly gone to plan with just nine appearances (six starts) for the South coast side and the chance to help Stuttgart maintain their push for a top four finish and Champions League football gives him the opportunity of more game time.
While not a signing as such, VfB also announced that key man Chris Führich had signed a new contract keeping at the club until 2028.
Borussia Dortmund
All BVB’s incoming business was done early on with loan signings Jadon Sancho from Manchester United and Ian Maatsen from Chelsea their two acquisitions. The Schwarzgelben did however allow Giovanni Reyna to move to Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season, but not before extending the US international’s contract until June 2026.
The club did however lose two youth talents with 19-year-old defender Hendry Blank joining Red Bull Salzburg on a permanent deal and highly-rated striker Julian Rijkhoff signing for Ajax.
RB Leipzig
Eljif Elmas in from Napoli to cover for the departing Emil Forsbeg was the only arrival at the Red Bull Arena. Timo Werner was allowed to join Tottenham on loan.
Eintracht Frankfurt
The Adler made a concerted effort in the transfer window to inject some quality and options into Dino Toppmöller’s squad as they look to really push on in the Bundesliga Rückrunde. Sasa Kalajdzic and Donny van de Beek were brought in from Wolves and Manchester United respectively to end their Premier League nightmares, while the talented winger Jean-Matteo Bahoya was signed from French side Angers on a permanent deal for €8 million.
The big news however was saved for deadline day with the announcement the club had finally signed striker Hugo Ekitiké from PSG after being previously linked with him in the summer. The move is an initial loan, but with a buy-out clause included.
Freiburg
It was a quiet window in the Black Forest with Freiburg bringing in just two players. Florent Muslija arrived on a permanent deal from Paderborn after some highly consistent years in the 2.Bundesliga, while the Breisgauer also took Hoffenheim’s Hungarian defender Attila Szalai on loan.
Hoffenheim
23-year-old Czech left back David Jurásek was the only arrival at Hoffenheim during the transfer window. Signed on loan from Benfica, it is hoped that he can emulate the role played so successfully by David Raum on their left flank.
Werder Bremen
The Grün-Weißen’s scouting department has gone far and wide to bring in three new faces for Ole Werner’s squad. All are young and ready to use Werder as the place to develop their careers to the next level. 22-year-old Argentine central defender Julian Malatini arrived from Defensa y Justicia for €1.7 million and scored on his debut last week.
Werder also signed 6ft 7 inch French defensive midfielder Skelly Alvero from Lyon, while they also went to Manchester United’s youth ranks to acquire 19-year-old Norwegian midfielder Isak Hansen-Aarøen, after the Premier League club wouldn’t sanction his demands in a new contract.
Heidenheim
There were no new signings with trainer Frank Schmidt happy with his lot.
VfL Wolfsburg
Even though he is going through somewhat of a goal drought at the moment, Wolfsburg have signed striker Kevin Behrens from Union berlin for €2 million. The newly capped German international will be hoping a fresh start at the Volkswagen Arena can get him back to scoring goals like he was at the start of the season. It will be interesting to see how he and Jonas Wind work in tandem.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
No news to report from the Foals.
Augsburg
Jess Thorup has been provided with two loan signings to bolster his squad options with versatile defender/ midfielder Kristijan Jakic coming in from Eintracht Frankfurt and Spanish attacker Pep Biel coming in from Greek side Olympiacos to reunite with his former FC Copenhagen trainer Thorup.
VfL Bochum
36-year-old veteran goalkeeper Andreas Luthe has been signed as a back-up from Kaiserslautern, while the Ruhr side have also signed 22-year-old defensive midfielder Agon Elezi from Croatian side NK Varazdin for an undisclosed sum.
Union Berlin
The appalling first half of the season has seen Union Berlin chop and change their squad quite a bit during the winter transfer window. The departures of Sheraldo Becker, David Datro Fofano (loan return) and Kevin Behrens meant that striking additions were necessary. Ivorian striker Chris Bedia has been signed for €2 million from Swiss side Servette, while Belgian attacker Yorbe Vertessen has come in for €4.75 million from PSV Eindhoven.
Kevin Vogt also signed from Hoffenheim to add some defensive experience to the Eisernen.
Köln
The club’s transfer embargo means that the Billy Goats have been unable to get involved in the transfer window.
Mainz
Once again, Mainz have been forced to act in the winter transfer window in order to give themselves a boost in the Rückrunde and push themselves away from the relegation zone. It worked last year with Ludovic Ajorque and Andreas Hanche-Olsen, and they are hoping it will work again this year.
The big name arrival was that of Nadiem Amiri from Bayer Leverkusen for a nominal 1 million fee. The Nullfünfer have also added to their forward line with the loan signing of Jessic Ngankam from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Darmstadt
Bottom side Darmstadt have also rolled the dice by signing three players on loan in an effort to improve their fortunes. Midfielder Julian Justvan is in from Hoffenheim, while the mercurial Gerrit Holtmann has been brought in from Bochum. Striker Sebastian Polter returns to the Bundesliga from Schalke on loan looking to add some much-needed goals in the relegation fight.
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