It has been a busy summer transfer window in Germany, with Bayern Munich’s acquisition of Luis Díaz from Liverpool far from the only new arrival set to lift fans off their seats.
Advertisement
It has been a busy summer transfer window in Germany, with Bayern Munich’s acquisition of Luis Díaz from Liverpool far from the only new arrival set to lift fans off their seats.
bundesliga.com picks out five of the most exciting summer arrivals…
Luis Díaz Club:Bayern Munich
Signed from: Liverpool
Position: Left winger
Bayern have a rich history of star wingers, with the likes of Robbery – Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry – stealing the show in their time at the Allianz Arena. Leroy Sané’s summer departure to Galatasaray left significant boots to fill, and Bayern moved quickly to secure Luis Díaz’s signature from Liverpool.
It was a major coup for the Bundesliga’s record champions. Díaz had 20 direct goal-involvements as Liverpool won the Premier League last season, and had looked likely to stay earlier in the summer. But Díaz now already has a Franz Beckenbauer Supercup to his name, scoring what proved to be the winner against Stuttgart, and the future looks bright for club and player.
Watch: Díaz finishes the ultimate team goal
Nicolas Jackson Club: Bayern Munich
Signed from: Chelsea (on loan)
Position: Striker
Sané’s wasn’t the only loss from Bayern’s final third this summer. Club legend Thomas Müller departed for Vancouver Whitecaps while Mathys Tel’s loan deal with Tottenham Hotspur was made permanent. As good a striker Harry Kane is – perhaps the world’s best – the England captain is only one man, and further support was to be welcomed.
It arrived, at the 11th hour, in the shape of Nicolas Jackson. His loan deal nearly fell through after an attacking injury crisis at Chelsea, but Bayern re-negotiated to finally acquire a player who can both act as cover for Kane up front, or support him from deeper and wider positions. Jackson was keen to work with Vincent Kompany, and his 30 goals and 12 assists in two seasons at Chelsea show why the feeling was mutual for the Bayern head coach.
Jobe Bellingham Club:Borussia Dortmund
Signed from: Sunderland
Position: Attacking midfielder
Bellingham in a Borussia Dortmund jersey was something Schwarzgelben fans enjoyed for three glittering seasons before Jude left for Real Madrid in what was a club record signing for the Spanish giants in 2023. Now BVB have his brother Jobe, who arrives fresh after helping Sunderland to Premier League promotion.
The younger Bellingham is a slightly different player to his sibling, one who has leant on technical skill as much as physical power on his way to averaging three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the last year, but his ceiling could be similarly high.
Jobe Bellingham tallied a goal and an assist for Dortmund at the FIFA Club World Cup. - IMAGO/Moritz Mueller
Lucas Vázquez Club:Bayer Leverkusen
Signed from: Real Madrid
Position: Right-back
It has been a summer of flux at Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka among those to have departed from the undefeated class of 2023/24, and 17 new players – including Malik Tillman and Jarell Quansah – arriving. But perhaps the biggest statement was the acquisition of Real Madrid legend Lucas Vázquez.
Vázquez talked to recent Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso and former right-back Dani Carvajal about joining Die Werkself, and both spoke in glowing terms. Now Bayer have acquired a player with 400 Madrid appearances, four LaLigas and five UEFA Champions Leagues under his belt, and one who can even help out at centre-back and on the right wing.
Lucas Vázquez (l.) sounded recent Bayer boss Xabi Alonso (r.) out about Leverkusen at this summer’s Club World Cup. - IMAGO/Latin Sport Images
Fábio Vieira Club:Hamburg
Signed from: Arsenal (on loan)
Position: Central midfielder
Hamburg have set about reinforcing on their return to the Bundesliga, picking up Yussuf Poulsen from RB Leipzig and Daniel Peretz from Bayern, and now they have added another player with serious pedigree in Arsenal’s Fábio Vieira.
The Portuguese midfielder, who spent last season on loan at first club Porto, boasts brilliant ball control, vision, and the ability to unpick a defence with an incisive through-ball, as well as being a set piece specialist – as his 40 career assists attest. Hamburg’s chances of survival just picked up a notch.