The Germany U19 international did receive a chance to audition for new Werder head coach Horst Steffen in training camp this year, but ended up being outshone bey fellow young attacker Patrice Covic. Werder managing director Clemens Fritz has remained adamant throughout the summer that Opitz needed to accrue higher level playing practice somewhere this year throughout the summer. 

Since being relegated from the German top flight last year, Kiel have lost their two opening games in the current 2. Bundesliga campaign. The only player to score a score for Marcel Rapp’s storks – Bosnian international Armin Gigovic – has since been sold to Young Boys Bern. Kiel are currently second-to-last in the German second division table. 

GGFN | Peter Weis

Incredible atmospheres and fan culture

Until 1. FC Köln and Hamburg were promoted at the end of last season, the 2. Bundesliga for several years boasted more former German champions than the top flight. Storied clubs steeped in tradition and backed by huge followings – not just across Germany but around the world – find themselves languishing below their standards of decades gone by. All this makes for some incredible atmospheres that must be seen to be believed. And when you factor in the cost of a matchday ticket and beer, not to mention the free transport to the game, then no country rivals Germany.

It’s impossible to predict

For much of last season, 10 clubs were firmly in the promotion race until the final weeks, with the eventual top nine clubs separated by just 10 points. Elversberg upset the apple cart by finishing third and making it to the relegation playoff, just one point behind HSV. The league is simply impossible to predict, anyone can beat anyone and remains fiercely tight throughout. With a host of sides missing out on Bundesliga promotion last season, and the additions of relegated VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel, along with 3. Liga newcomers Dynamo Dresden and none other than DFB Pokal finalists Arminia Bielefeld, the upcoming campaign promises to be even more unpredictable than the last.

A league of sleeping giants and big names

FC Köln and HSV may have earned promotion back into the top flight – the latter after a seven-year absence – but there are still a number of sleeping giants in the 2. Bundesliga. 1. FC Nürnberg, a nine-time German champion, have found themselves languishing in the second division since 2019. 1. FC Kaiserslautern – who won the Bundesliga in 1998 – found themselves in the 3. Liga in 2022 but since returned and narrowly missed out on the promotion playoff. Schalke 04 and Hertha Berlin are two clubs steeped in history with exceptional fanbases, but find themselves stuck in the second division while Hannover will also be eager to return to the Bundesliga under Christian Titz. And when it comes to big names, there are few bigger than Miroslav Klose in German football, who coaches FC Nürnberg in what is his first professional coaching job.

GGFN | Harry Good 

Machino serves as the second striker Gladbach have signed in the last eight days. Hoffenheim forward Haris Tabakovic was recently procured on loan. Machino, who can fill other roles besides that of a center-forward in attack, is designed to help the foals cope with the long term absence of German striker Tim Kleindienst. 

In signing Machino, Gladbach have acquired a player possessing a positional skill set more akin to the departed Alassane Plea. The signing also likely puts to rest (albeit very loose) rumors linking Bayern Munich attacker Paul Wanner with a move to the foals. Bayern are known to wish to retain Wanner anyway.

“Shuto is a versatile striker who can play in various positions,” BMG sporting director Roland Virkus noted in a club statement. “He proved last season that he can rack up double-digit goalscoring numbers in the Bundesliga. We are therefore delighted that he has chosen Borussia.”

“I really wanted to join Borussia, so I’m delighted that the transfer has gone through,” Machino himself added. “Now I want to do everything I can to help the team as quickly as possible.”

GGFN | Peter Weis

The Japanese striker will join Gladbach for €10m and sign a contract at Borussia Park that will be valid until 2029, reports kicker. Machino will have his medical today. 

Birmingham City were reportedly previously interested in bringing Machino to the Championship.

Despite Kiel getting relegated, the 25-year-old was one of the driving forces behind their late revival. In 32 Bundesliga games last season, Machino scored 11 and assisted two. 

Gladbach had held a long-term interest in the Japanese international and had been searching for a striker following the departure of Alassane Plea to PSV Eindhoven. 

Machino is die Fohlen’s second signing of the summer after bringing out-of-favour Hoffenheim striker Haris Tabakovic in on loan as a backup for the currently injured Tim Kleindienst. Whether Gladbach will look to sign more players will likely be dependent on outgoings. Defender Ko Itakura is the latest name to be linked with a departure. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan

Speaking to Sky Germany, Holstein Kiel sporting director Olaf Rebbe said: “We have a pain threshold. It’s in the double-digit million range.” That’s a significant rise on the reported €3.5m exit clause that was valid until May 31. And now teams must stump up in excess of €10m before Kiel contemplate selling their star player.

Although relegated from the top-flight, Machino was a standout with 11 goals and three assists in 32 Bundesliga games. The 25-year-old’s performances saw a return to the Japan national team which resulted in one goal and two assists in his last three games.

Since June 2024, per Transfermarkt, Machino’s market value has more than doubled from €2m to €5m, while the player holds a contract at Kiel until 2027.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

A serious problem with Gladbach’s pursuit of Machino concerns the fact that the foals were never alone in their desire to sign the 25-year-old. The German club’s ability to invest in new players also finds itself stymied by the need to remain fiscally responsible and sell off other players first. Thus far, this has not happened. 

Whether or not Berhardsson is viewed as an alternative to Machino or an equally-valued target remains unclear. In any event, the thrice-capped Swedish international would make a fine addition to the Gladbach attacker.

Bernhardsson scored seven goals and provided three assists for Marcel Rapp’s Sprinting Storks last season, in the process doubling his estimated market value from €1.5m to €3m. Kicker rated Berhardsson the best player in the squad based on cumulative notes over 19 league appearances. 

Sport Bild pejoratively refers to Gladbach interest in Berhardsson as a “scouting accident”. The Niederrheiner front office opted to target him after heavy scouts of Machino. 

The tabloid’s ideation can be considered silly and hyperbolic given that Gladbach didn’t need to work terribly hard to scout Bernardsson. The 26-year-old scored a goal and contributed an assist in Kiel’s 4-3 home win over Gladbach on matchday 31 this year. 

GGFN | Peter Weis

Despite yet making a sale, Gladbach have decided to push ahead to sign Shuto Machino of Holstein Kiel, with the club already discussing a potential date for his medical. 

This season for relegated Kiel, Machino scored 11 goals in the league and has continued his great form with the Japanese national team, recently scoring once and assisting twice against Indonesia. 

Another name that has been linked to die Fohlen is Alexis Claude-Maurice of Augsburg. Bild also reports that Gladbach had considered a loan for Borussia Dortmund’s Julien Duranville, but the club rejected the approach as they believe he will play a bigger role next season. 

The reason behind Gladbach’s push to make signings is due to the fact that they have already missed out on Benedict Hollerbach, who joined Mainz, Ilyias Ansah, who went to Union Berlin, Leon Avdullahu is moving to Hoffenheim, and defender Jordan Torunarigha joined Hamburg this summer. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan 

Wolves – having recently sold former Bundesliga professional Matheus Cuhna to Manchester United for hefty sum – obviously have need in attack. Transfermarkt writes that Brentford have “signaled interest” in Machino. At present, no other German footballing media sources are corroborating the report. 

Machino seems almost certain to depart Kiel following the club’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga this season. The storks have  already signed Norwegian forward Jonas Therkelsen (22) as a replacement for Machino in the German second division. 

At present, Machino maintains an estimated €3.5m market worth. Kiel will probably still seek a transfer fee in the high digit single millions after the 25-year-old’s highly successful Bundesliga campaign. 

GGFN | Peter Weis

“Nicolai has continued to develop and work his way up over the past years thanks to his strong work ethic and eagerness to learn,” said board member for sport Stefan Kuntz.

“His physicality and resilience will be a great addition to our squad and our game.”

Remberg played 32 Bundesliga games for Holstein Kiel last season but was unable to prevent the club’s relegation back into the second division following their maiden top-flight campaign. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old was a standout performer and will add an engine room to Hamburg’s midfield.

“I want to bring my strengths to the team, show my physical presence, and win as many battles as I can out on the pitch,” said Remberg. “It’s a real honour to wear the HSV shirt. In my conversations with the club’s management, it became clear what kind of role I can take on here and the journey we want to go on – both as a team and personally. I’m excited and ready for what’s ahead!”

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

Freiburg opted to immediately loan Wagner back out on Wednesday. What happens with Weißhaupt – after Freiburg have already signed several attackers ahead of next season – remains to be seen. 

Wagner joined St. Pauli at the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign on a season-long-loan. The 21-year-old started the initial five league fixtures under head coach Alexander Blessin. He ultimately ended up losing his starting slot before a thigh injury sidelined him for most of the rest of the year.

Freiburg confirmed a loan-out for Wagner to recently relegated Holstein Kiel. It will be the third consecutive loan stint for the prospect who once finished third in the 2019 Fritz Walter U19 awards behind Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Luca Netz two years ago.

Wagner did enjoy a successful season in the 2. Bundesliga whilst on loan with SpVgg Greuther Fürth during the 2023/24 season, scoring four goals and registering five assists in 31 appearances for the Middle Franconian Kleeblätter.

Weißhaupt joined St. Pauli from Freiburg during the January transfer window and quickly became a regular starter under Blessin. The 23-year-old ended up scoring one goal and registering an assist in 19 appearances for his loan club. 

Weißhaupt was able to increase his estimated market value from €3.5m to €5m during the loan stint. St. Pauli sporting director Andreas Bornemann recently admitted that the player’s performance left him outside the budgetary reach of the front office. 

Weißhaupt’s departure was officially confirmed early Friday evening.

GGFN | Peter Weis