Hoffenheim 2026/27 season preview: Can the Sinsheimers crack the top four?
After missing out on the top four by a single point last term, Hoffenheim go into the new season with a clear objective to bridge that gap and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Bolstered by some intriguing additions to his squad over the summer break, head coach Christian Ilzer will hope his side can compete at the sharp end once again.
Hoffenheim
2025/26 finish: 5th
Pre-season results: 3-0 win vs. SGV Freiburg, 21-0 win vs. Massenbachhausen, 4-1 win vs. Greuther Fürth, 3-1 win vs. Holstein Kiel, 3-0 win vs. Karlsruhe, 4-1 loss vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
First three fixtures: Cologne (A), Borussia Dortmund (H), VfB Stuttgart (H)
What to expect?
Since joining the club in November 2024, head coach Ilzer has transformed Hoffenheim from relegation candidates to Champions League qualification contenders. Last season, his side narrowly missed out on an all-important top-four finish by a single point.
Keen to avoid a similar fate this time around, the Hoffenheim hierarchy have been very active in the transfer market. While Bazoumana Touré and Grischa Prömel both left the club over the summer, decision-makers moved quickly to replace them while also adding depth in other key areas of the squad.
In addition, star man Fisnik Asllani looks set to stay, providing crucial firepower to an already stacked forward line. Don't forget about veteran forward Andrej Kramarić either, who led the way for the club last term with 14 goals in the Bundesliga alone.
Watch: All Kramarić's goals in 2025/26
Key new signing: Nathan De Cat
Despite only turning 18 last month, De Cat is expected to be a key player for Hoffenheim right from the outset. Earmarked as Belgium's next star midfielder, the former Anderlecht youngster has already made his international debut for the Red Devils in a friendly match against the USA earlier this year.
See all Hoffenheim's summer comings and goings here
Chiefly operating as a deep-lying playmaker for Anderlecht, De Cat will likely be tasked with dictating the tempo for his new side, as well as breaking up play when called upon defensively.
Andreas Schicker, Hoffenheim's managing director, said of De Cat's arrival, “Nathan is one of the biggest talents in European football in his position. We firmly believe in his potential and want to give him the trust and the necessary time to demonstrate his strengths at Bundesliga level and to continue developing.”
Watch: De Cat arrives at Hoffenheim
Key player: Oliver Baumann
The Germany goalkeeper has retained the captain's armband at Hoffenheim, where he will continue to provide vital experience and leadership in an increasingly youthful set-up. Baumann has been at the club since 2014, racking up just shy of 400 Bundesliga appearances for the side since then.
A model of consistency between the sticks, his displays in recent seasons saw him lock down the No. 1 jersey for the national team throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign. Despite turning 36 earlier this year, Baumann shows no signs of hanging up his gloves anytime soon.
Check out Hoffenheim's new jerseys for 2026/27
Talking point
Hoffenheim's summer transfer business has already generated plenty of headlines in the build-up to the new season. Former winger Touré, who joined Newcastle United, has been replaced by the likes of Adam Daghim and Patrick Wimmer - both of whom arrive with Bundesliga experience under their belts.
The aforementioned De Cat, left-back Mats Rots and Germany youth international Cajetan Lenz have also moved to Sinsheim. Out of their seven summer arrivals, only Wimmer is over the age of 24, underlining Hoffenheim's reputation as a developer of elite talent. Have they just recruited another crop of future world-beaters? Only time will tell.
Follow Hoffenheim's Bundesliga opener at Cologne here!
