The Bundesliga on Transfer Deadline Day: A Roundup of the Biggest Moves

Not to keep hammering away at the same nail until I’ve knocked all the way through to the next room, but Borussia Dortmund were not very busy on transfer deadline day. They had all their business done and dusted earlier in the summer... perhaps they set a deadline by which time they expected to have all deals done? Who ever heard of such a thing. What nonsense.

Anyway, there was still plenty going on in the Bundesliga as the window slammed shut yesterday. Here’s a helpful little roundup of some of the biggest moves that happened in the last few days.

Bayern Bringing in Reinforcements

Bayern Munich started the season looking a little light at several positions, and having also looked tired in several games so far, this appeared to be a significant weakness in an otherwise impeccable team. Following the chaos of last season and a short break before this season kicked off, squad depth is likely to be of huge importance for any team looking to go deep in several competitions. As a result, the final days of the transfer window were very busy for Bayern.

They made four moves at positions of need, including two cheap moves, bringing in Eric Maxim Choup-Moting on a free from PSG, to provide cover for Lewandowski, while Douglas Costa returns on loan from Juventus to add to the team’s wing depth. The other two moves won’t exactly break the bank, but they’ve signed the promising defensive midfielder, Marc Roca, from Espanyol for a reported €15m (with a further €5m in add-ons), and filled a big hole in the depth chart by adding right back Bouna Sarr from Marseille for €10m.

While they were busy bringing several players in, they also sent several in the other direction. Obviously Bayern lost Thiago to Liverpool a couple weeks ago, but they also sent midfielders Cuisance and Fein out on loan to Marseille and PSV respectively, and backup goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has joined 2. Bundesliga side, Hamburg, on a free.

Hertha Keep on Building

Hertha Berlin have been pretty busy in the last 18 months, seemingly looking to build a team that can compete for Europe in the very near future. They were busy in the last few days as well, including bringing in several players that will step into the first team almost immediately.

Hertha’s biggest move was probably the addition of Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi on a season long loan, but they also added the forward Jhon Cordoba from Koln, for a reported €15m, and the goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow from Freiburg for around €7m. Having shipped a handful of goals to Robert Lewandowski at the weekend, they also bolstered their defense by adding the center back Omar Alderete for €6.5m and the right back Deyovaisio Zeefuik from Groningen for €4m.

RB Leipzig’s Quest to Replace Werner

The biggest challenge facing the Bundesliga’s third best team, RB Leipzig, is filling the gaping hole left by their star striker Timo Werner. They moved for Alexander Sorloth earlier in the transfer window, signing him for €20m from Crystal Palace. They also looked to add Thomas Lemar from Atletico Madrid, but that move fell through, apparently due to Lemar’s wage demands. Instead, they made a move for Justin Kluivert on loan, with an option to buy, from AS Roma.

Big Moves in the Bundesloana

There was plenty of business being done in the final days all around the Bundesliga, but a lot of those moves were loans. There was the return of a familiar face from the cold Russian wilderness, with Maxi Philipp joining Wolfsburg on a year-long deal, while Sebastian Rudy returned to his old club Hoffenheim, on loan from Schalke. Hoffenheim made one other interesting addition in the form of young Englishman Ryan Sessegnon on loan from Tottenham. Elsewhere, Union Berlin brought in Loris Karius on loan from Liverpool, where he has been frozen out since his torrid time in the Champions League final a few seasons ago.

The biggest non-Bayern, non-Hertha transfer in the final few days of the window was a move away from the Bundesliga, with Davy Klaasen continuing to trick teams into paying significant sums of money for his services, as he returns to Ajax for a reported €11m, with up to €3m in add-ons.

Who do you think will be the best signing in the Bundesliga this season? And what about the biggest bust?

Have Bayern added enough depth to cope in all competitions? Do Hertha Berlin have more of a plan than pre-Ancelotti Everton? And will Leipzig have any success replacing Timo Werner? Let us know your thoughts!