Who are the key new signings in the 2026/27 Bundesliga?
The summer transfer window is closed in the Bundesliga and squads locked in for the season. Ismael Saibari has joined Bayern Munich, while Christopher Nkunku is back with RB Leipzig. So who did the best business with their marquee signing? We run the rule over each club…
See the full list of summer comings and goings here
Bayern Munich – Ismael Saibari
Bayern have been gently introducing Saibari to German football with substitute appearances in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup and Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart, with fellow new arrival Nathaniel Brown so far getting the nod to start in attacking midfield. But the Morocco international has given us clear glimpses of what’s to come, providing two assists off the bench against Stuttgart.
“What the fans can expect from me right from the start is intensity. I always give 100 percent – I don’t think I’m even capable of giving 90 percent. After 10 matches, I hope they’ll have seen a few goals and assists from me by then,” the 25-year-old told Bayern’s in-house magazine.
Borussia Dortmund – Konstantinos Karetsas
About 45 minutes into the season, this name would likely have been Giannis Konstantelias after his goal against Hamburg and lively cameo in the Supercup, but his campaign looks to be over after tearing his ACL in the second half of the opening game. So, his fellow Greek newcomer Karetsas now has to step up.
The 18-year-old set up Serhou Guirassy’s goal against HSV and was voted Man of the Match. He nearly got a goal himself, admitting afterwards that he needs to work on his finishing if he’s to live up to the expectations of a BVB kids fan group who believe he will be top scorer this season. No pressure…
RB Leipzig – Christopher Nkunku
One of the squad’s more experienced names is Nkunku, who returned to the club on loan from AC Milan, having left for Chelsea back in 2023. During his final campaign with Leipzig, Nkunku finished joint-top scorer in the league with 16 strikes to his name, and he scored 70 goals and provided over 50 assists in 172 appearances overall. The Frenchman also won the DFB Cup in 2022 and 2023.
Now 28, Nkunku offers Leipzig plenty of Bundesliga experience and versatility, given that he can play anywhere in the final third. He’s already provided an assist off the bench on his second debut in the opening win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Marc Guiu has also come in to bolster options at centre-forward, perhaps providing a partner for Nkunku to play off.
VfB Stuttgart – Dženan Pejčinović
Stuttgart already had strong attacking options in Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović, but they have further boosted their forward line with the addition of Pejčinović from Wolfsburg. Despite the competition for places, the Germany U21 international has already made an impact, netting a debut hat-trick in the DFB Cup win over Hansa Rostock.
Germany boss Jürgen Klopp has already stated he intends to talk to Pejčinović about a potential call-up going forward. With plenty of games to come for Stuttgart this term, the 21-year-old should have lots of chances to prove himself further.
Despite only turning 18 last month, De Cat is expected to be a key player for Hoffenheim. Earmarked as Belgium's next star midfielder, the former Anderlecht youngster made his international debut for the Red Devils in a friendly match against the USA earlier this year. 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.”
Bayer Leverkusen – Moussa Diaby
Diaby is another French forward returning to the Bundesliga, where he’s done the best work of his career. The winger scored 49 goals and got almost as many assists over 172 appearances with the Werkself between 2019 and 2023, before moving to Aston Villa and then Al-Ittihad, where he forged a prolific front line with Karim Benzema and won the 2025 Saudi Pro League title.
Still in his footballing prime at 27, he will hope to make even bigger impact in Germany this time, telling club media, “I want to be an even better player than I was at the time of my move.” Watch this space in Leverkusen.
With Noah Atubolu making it clear he wanted a new challenge before completing a move to Eintracht Frankfurt, Freiburg were left needing to fill a hole between the sticks. In Backhaus, they have acquired a more-than-worthy replacement who has brought the necessary calm and security as the last line of defence.
The Germany U21 international did well during his maiden Bundesliga campaign last time out at Werder Bremen, making 32 appearances in the top flight and keeping five clean sheets. His arrival, coupled with the incomings of Rihito Yamamoto, Yannik Engelhardt, Keisuke Gotō and Louey Ben Farhat has once again underlined Freiburg's ability to find value in the transfer market.
Eintracht Frankfurt – Raphael Onyedika
Onyedika’s arrival makes him just the second Nigerian to ever play for Eintracht after the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha. Should the new boy be able to get anywhere near to matching the latter’s impact, fans are in for a treat - although he occupies a different role in the team.
A defensive midfielder, Onyedika was a key player for former team Club Brugge. Last term, he showed his varied qualities, completing 90 percent of his passes while winning 56 percent of his attempted tackles. In a Frankfurt midfield that has, at times, perhaps lacked combativeness, his will be a welcome addition.
Augsburg – Michael Gregoritsch
One of the key figures behind Augsburg’s good second half of the 2025/26 season was top scorer Gregoritsch, who netted six goals and three assists in only 17 league appearances after returning to the club on loan in January. The Austrian has since put pen to paper on a permanent one-year contract.
The 32-year-old, who spent five years at Augsburg between 2017 and 2022, is the ideal target man in Manuel Baum’s direct system, getting their first goal of the season in the win over Schalke. Not only does he help bring his team-mates into play, he also works incredibly hard as the leader of Augsburg’s press.
Gruber's rise from Germany's lower leagues to the top flight has been rapid. Just one year ago, the centre‑back moved from Verl to Nuremberg and immediately established himself as one of the most exciting young defenders in Bundesliga 2. Now the 23-year-old is stepping up a level again, already impressing in pre-season with his reliability.
Whilst Gruber performed his defensive duties well for Nuremberg last season - winning 61 percent of his duels - it was his ability to help the team in building out from the back that really caught the attention of potential suitors, and ultimately Mainz, this summer. He completed 84 percent of his passes last term - numbers that make him an ideal fit for Mainz's more controlled playing style under Urs Fischer.
Union Berlin – Emmanuel Latte Lath
One of Union’s biggest drawbacks in recent years has been their (in)ability to regularly create chances from open play, leading the Iron Ones to often rely on set pieces. However, a figure of hope for a new and improved goal threat is Latte Lath. The 27‑year‑old Ivorian joins on loan from Atlanta United and is expected to inject pace, depth and finishing power into Union’s attack.
Although things hadn’t fallen into place for the forward in the MLS since arriving in early 2025, Latte Lath needed only three minutes to open his Bundesliga account in the Matchday 1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. He had already shown he knows where the goal is at previous side Middlesbrough, for whom he scored 27 goals in 59 English Championship outings.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – Ko Itakura
With Nico Elvedi leaving the club after 11 years, Gladbach were in desperate need of a secure option at the back to accompany Kevin Diks, and in the end, they turned to a familiar face in Itakura. The Japan international only left the Foals for Ajax last summer, but he is already back at the club where he made 80 appearances over three years.
"We are very pleased that we were able to sign a player who, in terms of quality and experience, exactly matches the profile we were looking for after the departure of Nico Elvedi," said sporting director Rouven Schröder when discussing Itakura’s return.
Viera was instrumental in HSV enjoying a relatively carefree return to the Bundesliga last season, finishing as top scorer and provider with seven goals and five assists. That was while on loan from Arsenal, and the Portuguese midfielder has now completed a permanent swap.
“No joke, the fans were messaging me every day,” he told the club’s website after confirmation of his return on deadline day. Sporting director Claus Costa added, “We know what we’ve got in Fábio. He has abilities that give our game a special quality.” Much focus will no doubt be on him to help ensure Hamburg can push on from a 13th-placed finish last term.
Cologne were busy in the transfer market, including late deals for the likes of Mikey Moore and Borna Sosa. But Dallinga has already hit the ground running with his two goals off the bench in the 3-2 win over Hoffenheim. It saw the Dutchman voted Man of the Match as he became the first Cologne player ever to bag a brace as a substitute on his Bundesliga debut – and the first for any team since Erling Haaland.
Coach René Wagner, who will now be looking to find a way to get Dallinga into his starting XI, said, “When the ball comes in, he’ll score goals.” The 26-year-old loanee from Bologna added afterwards, “That’s exactly how you want to start as a striker. It’s good for your head to score early in the season. I want to get back to the rhythm I had at Toulouse.” That form saw him score 37 goals in 86 appearances.
Werder Bremen – Niclas Füllkrug
There were many comings and goings at the Weserstadion over the summer. The most high-profile arrival, however, was Füllkrug, who is back for a third spell after joining on loan from West Ham United.
The 33-year-old hit 49 goals in 124 appearances across his first two stints in Bremen, helping the club return to the top flight in 2022 and finishing as the Bundesliga’s joint-top scorer 12 months later. His goals and experience could prove vital in keeping Werder’s heads above water this time around.
He may not be a new signing in the strictest sense of the word, but Džeko is back at the Veltins-Arena after his initial six-month deal, and ready to take on the Bundesliga once again. "Edin brought something special to Schalke during his first months at the club. He was a key player and a fan favourite, while his personality meant he always set an example both on and off the pitch," explained sporting director Youri Mulder.
The Bosnian striker made his first Bundesliga appearance in more than 15 years on Matchday 1, having scored 66 times across 111 appearances during a historic spell at Wolfsburg, helping them to the 2009 title. He may not post the same numbers now he's passed 40, but his presence will still be crucial to Schalke's prospects.
Whilst Elversberg have acquired a wealth of promising talents this summer in the likes of Cole Campbell from Dortmund, Maurice Krattenmacher from Bayern and Francis Onyeka from Leverkusen, their marquee signing is arguably striker Futkeu on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 23-year-old joined Die Adler on a permanent basis earlier in the summer from Greuther Fürth, for whom he posted a division-best 19 goals (and five assists) across 34 Bundesliga 2 appearances last term, despite Fürth only securing their second-tier status with a relegation play-off victory over Rot-Weiss Essen. Clinical in front of goal, possessing a physical edge to his game, and no stranger to a relegation firefight, Futkeu could be the difference between survival and the drop for Elversberg in the upcoming campaign.
Given Paderborn’s starting XI on Matchday 1 was the youngest they have ever fielded in the Bundesliga (24.1 years) and included eight top-flight debutants, the experience of Pieringer could be crucial to their hopes this season. Of the combined 98 previous Bundesliga appearances in that XI, 89 were from the 26-year-old striker.
He has scored 14 times at this level with Heidenheim, helping them qualify for the UEFA Conference League and enjoy a three-year stint in the big time. Pieringer’s goals, physicality and leadership as a senior figure up front will likely be vital in Paderborn’s hopes.
