Summer transfer XI

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen): There has been a major overhaul of personnel at the BayArena this summer, something further highlighted by Erik Ten Hag's dismissal just three games after replacing Xabi Alonso. Leverkusen skipper Lukáš Hrádecký was one of Alonso's title-winners to follow the coach out of the door, but in 31-year-old Dutch international Flekken they have a highly capable replacement who knows the German top-flight well. Flekken made 80 Bundesliga appearances and kept 26 clean sheets for Freiburg before heading to England in 2023.

Defence

Lucas Vázquez (Bayer Leverkusen): Even more experience was acquired by Leverkusen when they stunned rivals by capturing the signature of Spaniard Vázquez on a free transfer. The full-back joins after ending his decorated spell at Real Madrid, where the 34-year-old won the Spanish league four times and the UEFA Champions League on five occasions, among a plethora of other titles. With Jeremie Frimpong departing for Liverpool, Vázquez represents a superb replacement.

Watch: Lucas Vázquez arrives at Leverkusen

Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich): Another player to leave Leverkusen was Tah, although he has not travelled quite as far as Hrádecký or Frimpong. The 37-time Germany international swapped Leverkusen for Munich this summer, looking to add to the Bundesliga and DFB Cup trophies he won with the Werkself in 2024. He has already collected a Franz Beckenbauer Supercup winners' medal this summer and has immediately settled into the heart of the Bayern defence.

Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen): Tah's replacement at Leverkusen made the Frimpong move in reverse, the English centre-back joining from Liverpool on a five-year-deal in July. He even popped up with a goal on Matchday 1, albeit in a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim. Quansah is now tasked with filling Tah's shoes and shoring up the Leverkusen defence under their new management.  

Midfield

Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt): After three incredible years at Freiburg, Dōan was snapped up by Frankfurt ahead of the new campaign and already looks like he may be the signing of the summer. The Japan international has four goals and an assist from three competitive outings so far, with his double against Hoffenheim delivering a 3-1 victory for his new employers to go along with another double in the DFB Cup as the Eagles booked their place in the second round. 

Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen): The Nuremberg-born USA international is back in the Bundesliga after Leverkusen looked to plug the gap left by Florian Wirtz. Tillman emerged through the Bayern academy as a youngster and went on to make seven appearances for the record champions before a temporary assignment in Scotland and permanent move to PSV in the Netherlands. Two impressive seasons in Holland were backed up by a goal on his Leverkusen debut.

Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund): Another name returning to the Bundesliga is Bellingham, but this time it's Jobe making a splash in Dortmund rather than elder brother Jude. In 132 appearances for BVB, the latter became a major star for club and country before eventually moving to Real Madrid in 2023. Now it's Jobe who gets to play in front of the famous Yellow Wall, and the 19-year-old wasted little time impressing in black and yellow as he notched a first goal for the club at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.

>>> Find out all the Bundesliga incomings and outgoings from this summer's window in our overview!

Johan Bakayoko (RB Leipzig): Alongside Tillman, Bakayoko made a significant contribution to PSV winning two Dutch league titles in succession. The 22-year-old was hot property this summer but Leipzig ultimately won the race to his signature, with Bakayoko part of a youthful influx at the Red Bull Arena. Also keep an eye out for fellow newcomers Yan Diomande and Rômulo.

Attack

Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich): Possibly the most eye-catching arrival of the transfer window, Díaz swapped the English champions for the German ones in a blockbuster move. The 28-year-old has won league titles in his nativ Colombia, Portugal and England already, with the Bundesliga now in his sights. He has already made his mark on the club, scoring in the Supercup to see off VfB Stuttgart and going on to find the back of the net in each of his first two Bundesliga outings. Ominous signs.

Watch: Luis Díaz finishes ultimate team goal

Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt): More domestic due diligence from Frankfurt came in the signing of Burkardt, who lit up the Bundesliga last season while at Mainz. Burkardt, 24, was the top-flight's highest-scoring German in 2024/25 and netted a club record 41 Bundesliga goals in 136 appearances for Mainz before penning a five-year deal with Frankfurt. Now a regular in Julian Nagelsmann's Germany side, Burkardt is looking to go from strength-to-strength at Deutsche Bank Park.

Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich): Another player aiming to kick on at his new club is Jackson, although his move to Bayern was far more stressful than Burkardt's switch to Frankfurt. The Senegal striker was left in deadline day limbo before finally seeing his loan confirmed in the final moments of the window. Still just 24, Jackson has his best years ahead of him and joins from Chelsea having scored 30 times in 81 appearances and winning both the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in the process. He will compete with Harry Kane for a place in attack and adds even more firepower to Bayern's potent frontline.