5 new Bundesliga arrivals to watch ahead of the 2018/19 campaign

The Bundesliga returns on Friday night as champions Bayern Munich kick off their title defence against Hoffenheim in Niko Kovac’s first league game at the helm of the Bavarian powerhouse. With the season curtain raiser edging closer, we look at five new arrivals in Germany that are worth monitoring this season… 

Axel Witsel - Borussia Dortmund 

It was only a matter of time before Axel Witsel plied his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues. Having previously been linked with a move to Juventus, before spells with Zenit St Petersburg and Tianjin Quanjian in Russia and China, respectively, Borussia Dortmund took to plunge to sign the Belgian in a bid to bolster their midfield options. Witsel was a regular in the Belgium side that finished third at the World Cup with his pass success rate a hugely impressive 94.2% in Russia. 

He’ll ease exit of Gonzalo Castro, who departed for VfB Stuttgart, and bring composure to the side in the middle of the park. Alongside fellow new arrival Thomas Delaney, fans will hope the duo can settle quickly into their new surroundings. Witsel quickly endeared himself to supporters as he bagged a 95th-minute equaliser against Greuther Furth in the German Cup earlier this week, while fan favourite Marco Reus praised the 29-year-old following the stalemate. “When he came on you could see that he was exactly what we needed,” Reus said. Supporters will now hope Witsel can play a key role in the club’s pursuit of domestic glory once more. 

Nordi Mukiele - RB Leipzig 

Manchester City previously courted the young defender, so for RB Leipzig to land Nordi Mukiele is a coup in itself. The Bundesliga outfit secured the 20-year-old’s services from Montpellier earlier this summer and he has the potential to become one of the best in Europe with the right coaching. RB Leipzig have a habit of developing young players accordingly and Mukiele will look to follow suit in Germany.

His versatility is a huge asset for the German side, with Mukiele able to play at right-back or centre-back, while an ability to play in a four-man of three-man defence is also a huge bonus. While he registered just the one assist in Ligue 1 last season, the youngster chipped in with 1.1 key passes per game in France’s top tier last term, so he is more than capable of creating for teammates. Whether he plays at centre-back in a three-man defence, right-back or right wing-back, Mukiele isn’t one to shirk his defensive responsibilities either. When all is said and done, RB Leipzig have a quality defender on their hands and if nurtured properly, will be vital for the coming campaign. 

Alassane Plea - Gladbach 

Previously linked with West Ham, Newcastle and Tottenham, Gladbach eventually won the race to sign Alassane Plea from Nice. He moves to Germany off the back of his most prolific campaign to date, where he scored 16 and registered five assists in Ligue 1. Of those goals and assists, 11 and two, respectively, have come in 2018 and Gladbach will hope he can maintain that fine goalscoring form for the Bundesliga giants. 

Comfortable out wide or leading the attack, the 25-year-old is an effective weapon for head coach Dieter Hecking and he’ll ease the departure of Raul Bobadilla, who returned to Argentina this summer. What's more, his versatility on the frontline means Plea can be utilised either on the left wing or as one of the two strikers should Hecking continue with the 4-4-2 setup largely seen in Gladbach last season. As such, Lars Stindl, Raffael and Thorgan Hazard all have competition for a starting spot, while Vincenzo Grifo’s move to Hoffenheim won’t be so keenly felt. Costing over €20m, fans will demand Plea hit the ground running and if he can iron out his inconsistencies, then Gladbach have a fine attacker in the ranks to help make a push for European football. 

Wout Weghorst - Wolfsburg 

VfL Wolfsburg have a knack for relying on burly, physically imposing frontmen. Mario Gomez departed for VfB Stuttgart on loan in January, and without an out-and-out striker, Wout Weghorst has followed in the footsteps of compatriot Bas Dost in leaving the Netherlands for Wolfsburg. The decision not to make Divock Origi’s loan move permanent could have left the club short on striking options, but in Weghorst, they have a frontman who is head and shoulders above a majority of players in the Bundesliga, literally! 

Standing at 6’6”, it’s no wonder that no player scored more headed goals (4) than Weghorst in the Eredivisie last season, while 13 clear-cut goalscoring chances scored, that also the joint-most, shows how ruthless the 26-year-old can be in the opposition penalty area. Head coach Bruno Labbadia will hope he can have the same impact in the final third for a Wolfsburg side that scored just 36 league goals last season. If Weghorst can build upon a successful season with AZ, then it’ll ensure Wolfsburg finish the campaign well away from danger having secured their Bundesliga spot via the playoffs. 

Paulinho - Bayer Leverkusen 

Bayer Leverkusen clearly have high hopes for Brazilian teenager Paulinho having spent €20m to sign him from Vasco da Gama back in April. The Bundesliga side have success when raiding South America, as proof and success in the captures of Arturo Vidal, Ze Roberto and Emerson, and they are confident the 18-year-old can follow suit. A right winger by trade, Paulinho has the means to play on the left if required, but it’s in the former role where he is best suited to maximise his talent. 

He won’t be an immediate first team regular in Germany - Bayer Leverkusen are able to call upon Julian Brandt, Leon Bailey and Kai Havertz, three young talents, in wide positions - but by witnessing their development and transition into the side, Paulinho will hope to make a similar impact as the trio over the coming months as Brandt, Bailey and Havertz did before becoming household names in Germany and Europe. Returns of 1.3 key passes and 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 in the Brasileirao last season suggests that the teenage winger will only improve with the right coaching over time. Indeed, the BayArena seems the ideal setting for Paulinho to take his game to the next level.