As we move closer to the January transfer window, it’s time to take a look back at some of the best Bundesliga signings from the season so far. A league where both young and old can thrive, the Bundesliga has seen many new faces make an impact. Here are the best permanent transfers from the Bundesliga season so far.
Bundesliga Signings of the Season So Far
Axel Witsel
Table toppers 12 games into the season, Borussia Dortmund have benefitted from a great summer of spending. Arguably the deepest squad in the Bundesliga, Dortmund brought in the likes of Abdou Diallo, Thomas Delaney and Paco Alcácer. However, under new manager Lucien Favre, the best of the bunch so far has been Belgian international Axel Witsel. Commanding, strong and creative, Witsel is the complete midfielder. Playing alongside Delaney and Mahmoud Dahoud, he has established himself as a key player for his new club.
Contributing just one goal and one assist doesn’t do Witsel’s £18 million fee justice. With 94% pass completion on the season, the 29-year-old is rarely fazed, helping move the ball forward with ease. Witsel also sees a lot of the ball, with 881 touches so far this season. The Belgian has been key to the team’s success this campaign, providing both experience and quality. Surrounded by young talent, the likes of Witsel and Marco Reus will be key to the team’s title challenge this season.
Alassane Pléa
A game-changing signing, Alassane Pléa has transformed Borussia Mönchengladbach. Since joining The Foals, Pléa has become the leading man for Gladbach. Scoring eight goals in 12 games, the Frenchman has led his new team to second in the Bundesliga table. A remarkable achievement by such a young team, having a figurehead like Pléa up front opens up new opportunities for Dieter Hecking’s team. Entering the season, a young Gladbach team had realistic expectations. However, with players like Pléa and Thorgan Hazard leading them, European football is quickly becoming a real possibility.
Signing for a £20.7 million fee, Pléa offers more than just goals. Tallying three assists this season, the French striker gets others involved, including the likes of Florian Neuhaus and Jonas Hofmann. Playing in a young team, his mix of pace and strength makes him the ideal target man, capable of running past or bullying his marker. Considering his transfer fee, Pléa is a bargain, completing a team which has been looking for a new goalscorer for a while.
Davy Klaassen and Nuri Şahin
Davy Klaassen and Nuri Şahin are both considered rejects. Two players who were dumped by their former clubs, but in different ways. Klaassen was a big money signing, making a £30 million move to Everton. Lasting just one season, Klaassen was left out in the cold, sold by Everton for a meagre £12 million fee. The benefactors were Werder Bremen.
A club legend, Şahin left Borussia Dortmund after 223 appearances and one Bundesliga title. The Turkey international moved on for regular football but on much better terms than Klaassen. Leaving on the final day of the transfer window, Şahin found a new club, Werder Bremen.
Forming a new midfield partnership, Klaassen and Şahin are a duo leading Bremen into European contention. Currently seventh in the table, Bremen’s new midfield generals have made Florian Kohfeldt’s team stronger, providing creativity and leadership. A team on the rise, hard-working players like Klaassen and Şahin can lead an ever-improving squad into Europe.
Wout Weghorst
A team known for bringing in big target men over the years, Wolfsburg have found yet another giant to play up front. The likes of Edin Džeko, Bas Dost and Mario Gómez have all played at the Volkswagen Arena, paving the way for the next big, strong striker to come through the door. The summer saw Dutch striker Wout Weghorst sign from Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar. Standing at 6’6” the Dutchman is a genuine target man. A role he plays effectively, Weghorst is dominant in the air, winning 47 aerial duels so far this season.
Contributing five goals and two assists on the season, Weghorst has surprised many with his strong play. Similar to his predecessors, Weghorst has proven he’s more than just a big man. Surprisingly mobile, the Netherlands international ranks second in the league in sprints. Tallying 391 for the season, Weghorst sits above Marco Reus, Thorgan Hazard and Jadon Sancho. Leading the line for Wolfsburg, Weghorst will be crucial as the season goes on, as Bruno Labbadia’s team push for European football.
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