The winter transfer period has ended. The Bundesliga clubs have become prominent and exciting. The top transfers include internationally tried players, tried and tested Bundesliga goal scorers and young talents.
Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig)
It is the second minute of stoppage time in the play-offs for the 2021 European Championship. The Hungarians’ ten begins their solo run in their own half: with a body deception, he shakes off two Icelanders lightly. The penalty area and another opponent are getting closer and closer – so the Hungarian just pulls away. The ball hits the bottom right, from the inner post into the goal net. It’s 2: 1 for Hungary, who qualify for the EM and can now contest the preliminary round with Germany, France and Portugal. The goalscorer? Dominik Szoboszlai.
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After his goal, the 20-year-old giant talent of the Hungarians is almost crushed: Almost the entire team, including large parts of the support staff, throw themselves at the midfielder. Since this transfer period, Hungary’s athlete of the year 2020 has been under contract with RB Leipzig. “He has extraordinary potential and can play any position in midfield,” said Leipzig sports director Markus Krösche after signing with Szoboszlai. What distinguishes the third Hungarian national player – alongside Peter Gulacsi and Willi Orban – in the Saxon squad is his strong technique paired with high dynamics and his tremendous quality in the end: With his right foot he not only managed the sharp and precise hit against Iceland, but one or the other long-range or direct free-kick goal.
“In Hungary people compare him to Ferenc Puskas”, reported Lothar Matthäus, who was once the national coach of Hungary and lives in Budapest. Puskas was defeated in the 1954 World Cup final as captain with the favored Hungarians 2: 3 against Germany (“The Miracle of Bern”) and scored goal after goal for Real Madrid. “I want to be Dominik Szoboszlai,” said Leipzig’s new number 17. Puskas was a role model for him as a child. “I want to be a role model for current children in Hungary.” The move to Leipzig is “the best decision for my future”. Due to adductor problems, Julian Nagelsmann currently has to do without Szoboszlai.
Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt)
“The air is good for him here,” said Fredi Bobic, sports director at Eintracht Frankfurt, after the 3-1 win against FC Schalke 04 and spoke about Luka Jovic: As a Joker, the Serb didn’t even meet on his comeback for the SBU ten minutes. The attacker even managed to hit the Royal Blues. “A script like in a Hollywood film,” said Bobic, describing the successful and successful return of Jovic from Real Madrid to the Main.
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“Before the game I asked Luka Jovic how many goals he would score. He said: ‘If I play 15 minutes, then one.’ And then I told him that if he played 30, he had to score two goals. He did that, “said Djibril Sow after the game against S04. The 23-year-old attacker also met ice-cold in the 5-1 win in Bielefeld – it looks as if the striker has never been gone. The Serbian international tied his shoes for Eintracht for two seasons and was borrowed by the “Royal” until the end of this season. Together with Andre Silva he can form a dangerous two-man storm or offers Adi Hütter a good joker option when he comes off the bench.
In 57 Bundesliga games for the SGE, Jovic scored 28 goals. He gets along extremely well with his compatriot Filip Kostic, on and off the pitch. “The style of play, the city and the team suit me very well,” said Jovic. “I wanted to come back here. I wanted to be happy and play.” In the Bundesliga. And in his oasis of wellbeing in Frankfurt.
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Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Sead Kolasinac and William (FC Schalke 04)
FC Schalke 04 signed players with a lot of Bundesliga experience in winter – two of them even have a royal blue past: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who was brought in from Ajax Amsterdam, and Sead Kolasinac, who was loaned from Arsenal, returned to Gelsenkirchen. Kolasinac, who was trained in the Schalke Knappenschmiede, is directly captain and driver on the left at S04. “I want to show my presence and take responsibility,” said the 27-year-old and has already done both in a short time.
The “Hunter” is supposed to score goals in the fight against relegation: The 37-year-old Dutchman scored 82 goals in 175 Bundesliga games for Royal Blues – only Klaus Fischer scored more goals in the Bundesliga for S04 (182). “It is a huge challenge for me to help Schalke stay in,” said the striker at his introduction. Huntelaar was Joker at Ajax, now he will probably get more playing time and can also give the talent Matthew Hoppe one or two tips.
Another new addition to Schalke is William. The Brazilian right-back is on loan from VfL Wolfsburg and has played 83 competitive games for the Wolves since joining VfL in 2017. The 25-year-old, who won the gold medal with Brazil at the Olympic football tournament in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, scored five goals and seven assists. “We are very happy that we were able to strengthen ourselves in all prioritized positions – left and right-backs and strikers – despite a tight budget,” said Jochen Schneider after the William transfer. “Schalke is a club that gets under your skin and never gone, “said Huntelaar. A feeling that Kolasinac already knows and will now get to know William too.
Max Meyer (1. FC Cologne)
A former Schalke player has also returned to the Bundesliga: Max Meyer, who played for Crystal Palace in the Premier League for the past two and a half years, has signed a contract with 1. FC Köln until the end of the season. “I want to use the chance at FC to present myself at the top level and to help keep the club in good shape,” said Meyer. The 25-year-old midfielder played 146 times in the Bundesliga for S04 – he scored 17 goals.
“He can play in several positions in midfield, is intelligent, has a very good ball and is looking for a degree himself. Max wants to bring that to us by the end of the season,” said FC managing director Horst Heldt, pleased with the new signing. Meyer will wear the 13 in Cologne in the future.
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
In Jeremie Frimpong, another player has moved from the British Isles to the Rhineland: The nimble winger, who can act both as a full-back and in midfield, is now joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen and comes from Celtic Glasgow. The Dutchman is 20 years young and was educated in the youth of Manchester City. “With Jeremie Frimpong we were able to win a highly capable player for us and thus once again realized a forward-looking transfer for Bayer 04. He is technically strong, extremely fast and has a strong offensive drive,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes.
A forward-looking transfer: Since the Bender twins will end their careers in the summer, a successor is being sought for Lars in the back right – and for Sven in central defense. While Frimpong could act as right-back, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who joined the Werkself from Manchester United in the winter, can defend on the inside.
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Leon Dajaku (1st FC Union Berlin)
Another transfer with powerful prospects was the loan from Leon Dajaku, who has now joined 1. FC Union Berlin: The 19-year-old flexible offensive player is loaned from FC Bayern, and the Köpenicker also have a purchase option. Dajaku was mainly used in the U23 in the 3rd division at FCB. There he was particularly impressive with his speed and technique, which he flashed in numerous successful one-on-one situations.
“I am convinced that the move to Berlin is currently the right one for me. Union gives me the opportunity to gain a foothold in the Bundesliga and to show myself at the highest level,” said Dajaku after he signed.
Danny da Costa (1. FSV Mainz 05)
In contrast to the Köpenickers, 1. FSV Mainz 05 is in the middle of a relegation battle. In order to be able to contest this successfully, the Rheinhessen have strengthened themselves with Danny da Costa. “With Danny da Costa we are gaining a robust fighter who can set fresh impulses on the outside with his mentality and dynamism. With his defensive strengths and his experience he is an absolute asset for our team in the fight to stay in the league”, says 05 -Sport director Martin Schmidt.
By the end of the season, the right-back was loaned from Frankfurt and showed in his first outing how important he can be for Mainz: against the favorites RB Leipzig, da Costa prepared the winning 3-2. Also successful in the game: Dominik Kohr, who was also loaned from the SGE and added more experience and robustness to the Mainz midfield. Not only, but also through the transfers, the FSV shows: Bo Svensson’s team can still be expected this season.
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Two 2014 world champions at new clubs
And then shortly before the transfer window closed, two world champions from 2014 switched to the Bundesliga: Sami Khedira will play for Hertha BSC in the future. The midfielder was active for VfB Stuttgart from 2006 to 2010 and celebrated winning the German championship with the Swabians in 2007. After holding positions at Real Madrid and Juventus Turin, Khedira has now joined the Berlin team.
Shkodran Mustafi will defend at FC Schalke 04 with immediate effect. World champion Mustafi, most recently on the ball at Arsenal, signed a contract with the Knappen until the end of this season. The 28-year-old central defender comes from the HSV youth team, but has not yet played in the Bundesliga and is looking forward to his debut.
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