Jürgen Klopp names two squads with 16 uncapped players for Germany's UEFA Nations League fixtures
Jürgen Klopp has selected two different squads for his first four fixtures in charge of Germany when they face the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia in the UEFA Nations League across September and October.
Klopp has taken over from Julian Nagelsmann, who stepped down following Germany's early exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 59-year-old begins his tenure with a selection of 44 players blending experience and youth, while the goalkeeping department has also been revamped following Manuel Neuer's second retirement from international football.
Regarding the decision to name two squads, the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach explained that he wants to get a look at as many players as possible, while also juggling the tight calendar with four fixtures - a new feature of this extended international break - and the need for players to be able to recover after playing for their club and before returning home.
He stressed that there is no "A or B Team" and that there's the plan for some players in the first squad to stay and be involved in the second set of fixtures.
Life after Neuer
Klopp confirmed that he plans to use returning veteran Marc-André ter Stegen, now at Ajax, as his number one. Ter Stegen last played for Germany in their 2025/26 Nations League third-place play-off defeat to France and has been named in the first squad to play in the Netherlands and at home to Greece, alongside Augsburg's Finn Dahmen and Alexander Nübel of Beşiktaş.
Bayern Munich's Jonas Urbig, widely viewed as Neuer's long-term successor for club and country, is in the second set of players that will host Serbia and travel to Greece, alongside Dahmen and Eintracht Frankfurt's Noah Atubolu.
Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann is not involved, having played through qualifying for the previous World Cup in place of Neuer.
Watch: The best of Jonas Urbig
New, young and old faces
Younes Ebnoutalib is also among the 16 uncapped players included after starting his first full season at hometown club Frankfurt in fine form, scoring four goals in as many competitive appearances. The 23-year-old forward also hit 12 goals for Elversberg in the first half of the 2025/26 Bundesliga 2 campaign, before an injury disrupted his winter move to Eintracht. He is uncapped at any level for Germany, but did represent Morocco's U15s in his youth.
Fellow Frankfurt forward Jonathan Burkardt has been recalled in the second squad after earning five caps under Nagelsmann but missing out on a place at the World Cup. The 26-year-old has scored five goals in all competitions so far this season. Cologne teenager Saïd El Mala also makes a squad after being called up by Nagelsmann last November without making an appearance, while Bayern Munich midfielder and Germany U21 captain Tom Bischof returns having already earned one senior cap.
Klopp has also called up Freiburg's Philipp Treu and newly promoted Elversberg's Felix Keidel, giving him two exciting right-back options and, as Klopp confirmed, allowing captain Joshua Kimmich to return to his preferred role in central midfield. Hoffenheim winger Bambasé Conté and Freiburg's Derry Scherhant are other new options out wide.
"We've got a few guys here who will surprise you, but we see something in the guys and want to be there for their development. Lots of talent has caught our eye - so much that some aren't even included," Klopp said of the newcomers.
Watch: Ebnoutalib making waves at Frankfurt
Germany travel to Amsterdam to open their Nations League Group A2 campaign against the Netherlands on 24 September, before hosting Greece in Augsburg on 27 September and Serbia in Munich on 1 October. The international window concludes with a return fixture against Greece in Thessaloniki on 4 October.
Germany squad vs. Netherlands and Greece
Goalkeepers
Finn Dahmen, Alexander Nübel, Marc-André ter Stegen
Defenders
Hennes Behrens, Yann Aurel Bisseck, Nathaniel Brown, Max Rosenfelder, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Philipp Treu, Josha Vagnoman
Midfielders
Nadiem Amiri, Bambasé Conté, Yannik Engelhardt, Christ Führich, Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Felix Nmecha, Kevin Schade, Anton Stach
Strikers
Younes Ebnoutalib, Kai Havertz
Germany squad vs. Serbia and Greece
Goalkeepers
Noah Atubolu, Finn Dahmen, Jonas Urbig
Defenders
Waldemar Anton, Ridle Baku, Finn Jeltsch, Maximilian Mittelstädt, David Raum, Malick Thiaw
Midfielders
Karim Adeyemi, Mika Baur, Tom Bischof, Saïd El Mala, Brajan Bruda, Vitaly Janelt, Felix Keidel, Aleksandar Pavlović, Derry Scherhant, Florian Wirtz
Strikers
Jonathan Burkardt, Nick Woltemade
