The new Bundesliga season is about to start. FC Bayern is once again going into the race as the top favourite. Can Borussia Dortmund become a spoilsport? BVB has strengthened. The FCB too.
Should strengthen their new clubs: Niklas Süle Bor. Dortmund, left) and Sadio Mané (FC Bayern)
Is it words of resignation or rather of confidence that Hans-Joachim Watzke chose so shortly before the start of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season? “Of course, with the exception of the Bayern fans, everyone wants Bayern not to become German champions. I said it will happen at some point in the next few years. I just can't guarantee that it will happen next year, especially since they have invested very well and a lot, “said the managing director of Borussia Dortmund of the ARD sports show. So: is the glass half full or half empty? Everyone has to decide that for themselves.
One thing is clear: BVB is again – after a few failures – the club that would like to surpass the record champions in the coming season. But is that realistic?
FC Bayern has so far invested almost 140 million euros in rebuilding the team. Top stars like Sadio Mané or Matthijs de Ligt are now part of the Munich portfolio. Reinforcements that should ensure that coach Julian Nagelsmann's team is competitive, especially at the international level of the Champions League, and can be counted among the title candidates. With this claim, the team is of course also the top favorite for the championship title in Germany – the eleventh in a row.
Defensively strengthened, unlucky with failures
BVB also digged deep into their pockets before the new season, albeit on a different scale than their big competitor from the south. Dortmund invested around 86 million euros and thus just a little more than half of Munich's expenditure – for example in the young national player Nico Schlotterbeck, the talented attacker Karim Adeyemi and the experienced striker Sebastien Haller Niklas Süle from Munich to Borussia.
Cancelled until further notice due to cancer: BVB newcomer Sebastien Haller
With these commitments, Dortmund have significantly strengthened the weakening defense of the past season. And actually, after the departure of top striker Erling Haaland, they also created new opportunities for the attacking game. Unfortunately, newcomer Haller was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer during an examination. After an operation, he now has to undergo chemotherapy and will be out at least until the second half of the season. A short-term commitment to replace Haller in attack is to follow shortly.
In addition to Haller, Süle will also be absent at the start of the season against Bayer 04 Leverkusen suffered a muscle injury. An extremely unfavorable starting position for BVB.
Nagelsmann under additional pressure
At FC Bayern , on the other hand, all players are fit and healthy. Julian Nagelsmann is therefore spoiled for choice. Does he want to call up Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Sadio Mané in attack on Friday evening in the season-opening game at Eintracht Frankfurt (kick-off at 8.30 p.m. CEST) or just let one or two of these top professionals play? After the departure of exceptional striker Robert Lewandowski (to FC Barcelona) is still a selection that should be admired by many clubs across Europe. The qualitative superiority of Munich should therefore endure, especially since no other mainstays have left the club.
Must deliver this season: Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann
Only coach Nagelsmann is under additional pressure this season after he was responsible for an early exit in the Champions League and in the DFB Cup last season. “We are doomed to succeed at Bayern. Julian knows that too Nagelsmann,” says FCB CEO Oliver Kahn. The management level noticeably increases the pressure on his trainer.
Nagelsmann feels the same way. “When you spend a lot of money on new players, the pressure naturally increases,” says the 35-year-old ahead of his second season with Munich. “As a Bayern coach, you're always under pressure, of course. But I think I can handle it. And I hope we're more stable than last season.” If the Bayern coach implements this announcement with his team, it would not be good news for BVB – once again.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
David Raum (Hoffenheim → Leipzig)
With the 24-year-old, one of the most talented defenders in the Bundesliga is changing clubs. The left-back leaves TSG Hoffenheim after just one season and goes to RB Leipzig for just over 25 million euros. There the national player, who scored three goals and provided 13 assists for Hoffenheim last season, will receive a contract until 2027.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Mathys Tel (Stade Rennes → FC Bayern)
FC Bayern is investing in its future: A 17-year-old attacker comes from the French first division club Stade Rennes, whom FCB sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic describes as “one of the greatest talents in Europe”. The fixed transfer fee is 20 million euros, it can increase to 28.5 million euros. Coach Julian Nagelsmann has “a vision that one day he will score 40 goals”.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus → FC Bayern)
The German record champions FC Bayern also have a new chief of defense. The Munich bring the Dutch national player Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus Turin to the Isar. According to reports, the transfer fee for the 22-year-old is around 70 million euros, plus ten million in possible bonus payments.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern → Barcelona)
FC Bayern also has the money for the de Ligt transfer because Robert Lewandowski says goodbye after eight years on the Isar. The two-time world footballer moves to FC Barcelona for 45 million euros plus five million in possible bonuses. The Polish striker has scored 344 goals in 375 games for Bayern. In the end, however, he just wants to leave Munich.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Sadio Mané (Liverpool → FC Bayern)
FC Bayern succeed in another transfer coup by signing the unerring Senegalese. The record champions released a player from Liverpool FC, who regularly plays for titles there – in what is supposedly the best league in the world. The Munich-based company should pay a transfer fee of 32 million euros plus a maximum of nine million euros in bonuses for the man who is to replace Robert Lewandowski.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Erling Haaland (BVB → Manchester City)
The Norwegian is leaving Borussia Dortmund after two and a half years for the agreed transfer fee of 75 million euros and moving to England. His record is impressive: 85 goals in 88 competitive games. However, the only title in black and yellow remains the DFB Cup 2021. At Manchester City, where his father Alf Inge already played, a few more are to be added soon.
- < img src="https://static.dw.com/image/62521048_303.jpg" /> The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Sebastien Haller (Ajax → BVB)
Sebastien Haller comes from Amsterdam to replace Haaland. The Ivorian national player celebrated successes at Eintracht Frankfurt with Luka Jovic and Ante Rebic as the “buffalo herd” from 2017 to 2019. It costs 36 million euros. However, shortly after his commitment, the 28-year-old was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After a successful operation, he will be out for a few months due to chemotherapy.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Niklas Süle (FC Bayern → BVB)
The Dortmund defense receives prominent reinforcement with Niklas Süle – and that too for a free transfer. The national player leaves Bayern because there is not enough trust and he lacks appreciation. In Dortmund he wants to make sure “that Bayern doesn't win the championship for the eleventh time”. Bayern keeper Neuer is disappointed: “It annoys us all that Niklas is leaving, we will miss him.”
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Nico Schlotterbeck (Freiburg → BVB)
Together with Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck could form the new center of the Dortmund defense chain. Provided that the ex-Freiburger, who costs around 20 million euros, prevails against the competition – including Mats Hummels. He narrowly missed out on the DFB Cup with the sports club, and the 22-year-old wants “maximum success” with BVB. His announcement: “We want to challenge Bayern.”
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Axel Witsel (BVB → Atletico Madrid)
The Belgium international continues his career in Spain's capital. At Atletico he gets a one-year contract. Witsel's contract with Borussia Dortmund expired at the end of last season and was not extended. Witsel came to BVB from China in 2018. In Dortmund's midfield he made 105 Bundesliga appearances and scored ten goals.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Karim Adeyemi (Salzburg → BVB)
Haller becomes strike partner of national player Karim Adeyemi at Dortmund. Whose commitment was announced an hour after the Haaland transfer was officially announced. The 20-year-old moves from Red Bull Salzburg to BVB for an estimated 30 million euros and has a contract with the Black and Yellows until 2027.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Mario Götze (Eindhoven → Frankfurt)
A world champion returns to the Bundesliga – with Mario Götze even the winning goal scorer in the 2014 final against Argentina. After two years at PSV Eindhoven, the 30-year-old will join Eintracht Frankfurt, the winner of the Europa League until 2025. The fee for the offensive player is – quite unworldly – just three to four million euros.
The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax → FC Bayern)
With the right-back of Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern have signed a player their coach Julian Nagelsmann wanted. Mazraoui, born in the Netherlands, plays for the Moroccan national team. The 24-year-old, for whom there have been offers “from all over Europe” according to Bayern's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, comes to Munich on a free transfer and has a contract until 2026.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax → FC Bayern)
In addition to Mazraoui, Bayern also bring his Ajax colleague Ryan Gravenberch. The 20-year-old Dutch international is set to strengthen midfield. He will sign until 2027. “Ryan Gravenberch is a young, very interesting player that many top European clubs would have liked to sign,” said Bayern boss Oliver Kahn in a club statement.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Adam Hlozek (Sparta Prague → Leverkusen)
The Czech attacking talent Adam Hlozek is also in international demand. The 19-year-old attacker from Sparta Prague has been a national team player since September 2020 and will also take part in the 2021 European Championship. He has signed a five-year contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, where he can play alongside his compatriot Patrik Schick. According to Transfermarkt.de, the fee should amount to 19 million euros.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Lucas Alario (Leverkusen → Frankfurt)
Because of the oversupply in the Werkself storm, another attacker leaves Leverkusen: Lucas Alario joins Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt. The 29-year-old Argentinian signed a contract until 2025. Alario moved to Leverkusen from River Plate Buenos Aires in 2017. He played 164 times for the Werkself and scored 58 goals.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Xaver Schlager (Wolfsburg → Leipzig)
Full commitment is guaranteed with the beefy Austrian. The 24-year-old never avoids a duel, even if he sometimes gets injured himself. In September 2021 he tore a cruciate ligament in the game against Leipzig and missed half the season. Apparently he still impressed the people of Leipzig. They pay twelve million euros for Schlager and give him a contract until 2026.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Alexander Schwolow (Hertha → Schalke)
The goalkeeper is no longer between the posts with the Berliners due to a muscle injury and has to watch from the stands as his colleagues in the relegation ensure relegation. After two years in Berlin, the ex-Freiburger is loaned out to the club he almost switched to in 2020: FC Schalke 04.
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The most important transfers in the Bundesliga
Corentin Tolisso (FC Bayern → Lyon)
118 competitive games in five years – for more it is not enough for Corentin Tolisso during his time at Bayern. The French international, who came to Munich from Lyon in 2017 for the then Bundesliga record sum of 41.5 million euros, is often injured. His contract will not be renewed. The 27-year-old's new club, who won 14 titles with FCB, is his old one: Olympique Lyon.