As the new Bundesliga season is set to start, the excitement and enthusiasm among the fans is at an all-time high. Bayer Leverkusen completed an astonishing invincible season last time out and will be looking to continue where they left off last season but Xabi Alonso’s men will be aware of Bayern’s will to regain the Bundesliga crown under Vincent Kompany.
As the floodlights are ready to shine bright across Germany’s iconic stadiums, fans can expect yet another season full of drama, iconic battles, late comebacks, and breathtaking goals. This season several new players will grace the Bundesliga with their presence bringing their skills, flair, and ambition to Germany’s top flight.
Today let us take a look at 5 new Bundesliga players to watch out for:
1. Michael Olise – Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich signed Micheal Olise from Crystal Palace for €53 million making it the 4th most expensive signing in their history. Olise rose through the ranks of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City youth teams before making a switch to Reading. The attacking midfielder quickly made a name for himself with his goalscoring prowess and maturity and was named EFL Young Player of the Season in 2021.
This earned him a transfer to Crystal Palace where he introduced himself to English football. In his 3 seasons at Palace, he made 90 appearances scoring 16 goals in the process.
The 22-year-old is expected to be a perfect fit for Kompany’s style of play and his ability to unlock defenses with pinpoint passes will come in handy for Bayern in their bid to regain the Bundesliga crown.
2. Alex Garcia – Bayer Leverkusen
Alex Garcia is the latest addition to Bayer Leverkusen’s squad after completing the move from La Liga side Girona for €18 million. The midfielder’s career began at the Villareal youth team and made a few appearances for the Villareal B and C teams. He then made a switch to the Premier League joining Machester City, which did not go as expected for the Spaniard. After just a handful of appearances for City he was loaned out to Girona and Royal Excel Mouscron.
His career took an upward spiral when he joined Girona permanently and became one of their regular starters. He made 45 total appearances for the club in his first season, helping the club reach promotion to La Liga. The 26-year-old also played a pivotal role in Girona’s highest-ever league finish last season, starting all of their 38 games.
The switch to Leverkusen is another step up in his career and his partnership with Granit Xhaka in the midfield will be one to watch out for and just like Xhaka, Garcia is known for hitting screamers from the midfield which will be another headache for their opponents in the coming season.
3. Pascal Groß – Borussia Dortmund
Pascal Groß is a German midfielder who made a name for himself thanks to his versatility on the pitch. Starting his career at Ingolstadt, he was regarded as their most dependable player and showed tremendous maturity on and off the ball. Groß helped Ingolstadt to promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2014–15 season, scoring 7 goals and assisting a whopping 23.
This earned him a switch to Brighton and Hove Albion where he spent 7 seasons. He was one of the ever-presents in the Seagull team making 261 appearances in all competitions.
The 33-year-old has now made a switch to Borussia Dortmund for a fee of 10 million euros. Given his experience at the highest level, Groß is expected to thrive at the Signal Iduna Park and become a key figure in their midfield. His threat from set pieces and frequent eye for goal will be key if Dortmund want claim domestic and European success this season.
4. Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig signed youngster Antonio Nusa from Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge. The Norwegian started his career at Langhus Academy at the age of 13 and moved to Stabæk a few years later. After impressing in the early years with Stabæk, Nusa earned a transfer to Club Brugge of Belgium where he made 62 appearances in 4 seasons.
Known for his ability to take on defenders and incredible work rate, the 19-year-old was on the radar of many Premier League clubs this summer but preferred a move to Leipzig in search of regular first-team football. If he adapts to the fast-paced Bundesliga, Nusa could potentially become a key figure in Leipzig’s push for success in both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League this season.
5. Deniz Undav – VfB Stuttgart
Deniz Undav is a German forward who rose through the ranks of Werder Bremen. After impressing in his early years, he was released by Werder Bremen due to his lack of height. Undav struggled to take off his career and made short stints at SC Weyhe, TSV Havelse, Eintracht Braunschweig II, and SV Meppen.
It took a move to the Belgian Pro League side Union SG which finally unlocked his full potential. He scored 45 goals in 68 appearances for the club and announced himself in the world of football. He then made a switch to Brighton scoring 8 goals in 30 appearances in the 2022-23 season.
A switch to Stuttgart is an understandable move for both the player and the club. Undav is 28 years old currently and needs regular first-team football at this point of his career while his finishing skills could be exactly what Stuttgart needs to convert more chances into goals.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
