The Bundesliga has experienced significant player acquisitions this summer, potentially heralding notable changes for the 2024/25 season. The league commences on the 23rd of August and will continue through to mid-May of the following year. Below are some of the notable transfers in the league during this summer’s transfer window.
Brazilian Defender Yan Couto Joins Borussia Dortmund
Brazilian right-back Yan Couto has made the move from Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund on loan. This agreement consists of an initial loan term, accompanied by a mandatory purchase option amounting to €30 million.
The 22-year-old moved to Manchester City in 2020 from Coritiba, a Brazilian club, for £5 million. Despite his time there, he did not break into the first team at City. Couto spent three full seasons on loan with Girona, a Spanish club owned by City Football Group. Additionally, he played for Portuguese team Sporting Braga during the 2021/22 season, racking up 42 appearances.
During his last season at Girona, Couto was instrumental in their unexpected third-place finish in La Liga, a position that enabled them to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
In total, Couto has made 95 appearances for Girona, scoring five goals and providing 17 assists in all competitions.
Leverkusen Acquires Martin Terrier From Rennes
French forward Martin Terrier has committed to Leverkusen for the next five seasons, with the transfer reportedly costing 22 million euros. The 27-year-old joins the reigning German champions after spending the last four seasons with Rennes, where he netted 46 goals in 111 appearances.
His recent form has been hampered by an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.
Terrier originally debuted with Lille before transferring to Olympique Lyon in 2018, following a season-long loan at Strasbourg. Subsequently, he joined Rennes, where he showcased his best performance and even competed in the Champions League.
This offseason, Leverkusen also secured the signing of 19-year-old French center back Jeanuel Belocian from Rennes.
Bayern Munich Acquires Midfielder Joao Palhinha
Bayern Munich has finalized a deal to acquire Fulham midfielder João Palhinha for a fee that could reach up to €56m. Palhinha was nearly transferred to Munich last year but the agreement fell through on the final day of the transfer window.
The 28-year-old joined Fulham from Sporting Lisbon in 2022 with a transfer fee around £17m. He quickly became a vital player for the team, earning the club’s player of the year in his debut season at Craven Cottage. Over two seasons with Fulham, Palhinha made 79 appearances and scored 8 goals.
Last season, Bayern Munich finished third in the Bundesliga, trailing the champions, Bayer Leverkusen, by 18 points. They were knocked out by Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League and did not secure the German Cup, marking one of their most disappointing seasons in recent history.
Looking ahead, the team is counting on Palhinha to play a significant role in their offense as they aim to reclaim the top position in the league.
Borussia Dortmund Signs Serhou Guirassy from Stuttgart
Guinean international Serhou Guirassy has finally completed his transfer to Borussia Dortmund for a reported €17.
A €5 million release clause is included in his contract. Last season, the 28-year-old forward netted 28 goals in the Bundesliga, achieving this feat in just 28 matches.
Initially, there were uncertainties surrounding the transfer, stemming from a medical examination in early July that flagged a knee injury Guirassy incurred in June. However, after additional evaluations, Dortmund is confident that surgery won’t be necessary and anticipates only a few weeks of recovery. The team is optimistic that they will have the striker ready for the season opener.
