The new faces of the Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is kicking off another season. Just like every other year there are many promising players who are set to play in Germany's top division for the first time — for whom clubs paid dearly to acquire.
Axel Witsel
Alex Witsel is the new key man at Borussia Dortmund. The 29-year-old drew a lot of positive attention with his strong performances for Belgium at the World Cup in Russia. This is part of what convinced BVB sporting director Michael Zorc to spend €20 million to pry him away from TJ Quanjian in China.
Paulinho
Bayer Leverkusen spent a reported €18.5 million ($21.3 million) to acquire 18-year-old Brazilian Paulinho from Vasco da Gama. The word on the left-footed attacker is that he is comfortable playing in a number of different roles "He always wants the ball and to show what he can do," Rudi Völler, Leverkusen's head of sport has said of the youngster.
Matheus Cunha
The Brazilian announced his arrival in with his second goal for RB Leipzig, which came in the club's 2-0 win against BK Häcken in Europa League qualifying in July. The 19-year-old joined RB for €15 million from Swiss side FC Sion. "Cunha is a highly interesting striker who, with his pace and offensive attitude fits in well with our philosophy," Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick said.
Kasim Adams Nuhu
Bundesliga strikers couldn't have been thrilled to learn of Kasim Adams Nuhu's arrival at Hoffenheim. The 23-year-old Ghanaian defender moved from Young Boys Bern for an estimated transfer fee of €8 million. "His physique is massive," sporting director Alexander Rosen said. "He is an exceptional athlete and a super footballer."
Alassane Plea
Borussia Mönchengladbach believe they have found the classic goal poacher that they were looking for. They hope that Alassane Plea will be knocking in the goals in the Foals' new 4-3-3 system. The 25-year-old arrived from Nice in France for a reported club-record fee of €23 million. Plea should help make Gladbach's game less predictable.
Pablo Maffeo
Pablo Maffeo is regarded as one of the most talented right backs in Europe. Stuttgart reportedly paid around €10 million for the 21-year-old Spaniard, who is a product of Manchester City's youth academy. He spent the last two years in Spain on loan at FC Girona.
Wout Weghorst
Wout Weghorst has had an interesting career so far. By his own omission, he started out in "the ninth or 10th division" at the age of 18. "I was never greatly talented, but I was always very ambitious," the Dutchman said. Wolfsburg paid an estimated €10.5 million to acquire the 26-year-old striker from AZ Alkmaar, where he scored 18 goals in 31 games.
Davy Klaassen
Werder Bremen paid a reported club-record sum of €13,5 million for Davy Klaassen. The offensive midfielder is a good dribbler of the ball with an eye for goal. The 25-year-failed to Everton's Premier League squad last season, but previously he was a key player for Ajax in the Eredivisie.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
"He is fast, tracks back well and knows where the goal is," Mainz coach Sandro Schwarz said of Jean-Philippe Mateta. The slim 1.92-meter (6-foot-4) striker joined Mainz from Olympique Lyon for €8 million, a record transfer fee for the club. "Schwarz and (sporting director Rouven) Schröder convinced me of their project," Mateta said.