When Bayern Munich last won the Bundesliga after a season off the top, it proved the first of 11 successive triumphs until they were stopped in 2023/24 by Leverkusen, who are lengthy second-favourites to stop Vincent Kompany’s squad from triumphing again this time.
New Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag dethroned PSV in his first full season in charge of Ajax in 2018/19, but succeeding Xabi Alonso – orchestrator of Die Werkself’s glorious unbeaten domestic campaign two years ago – could be a blessing or a curse as the Dutchman aims to restore his reputation.
Borussia Dortmund finished last season strongly under Niko Kovac and Leipzig have appointed Ole Werner following the 37-year-old’s departure from Werder Bremen, while Frankfurt are aiming to build on a third-placed finish that was their highest in 32 years.
Bundesliga transfers 2025/26
Bayern’s £65.5m addition of forward Luis Diaz from Liverpool was the headline incoming deal of the summer, while Frankfurt lost the prolific Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool for an initial £69m, although Dino Toppmoller’s signings have included centre-forward Jonathan Burkardt – scorer of 18 league goals for Mainz last season – for around £20m.
Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz’s switch from Leverkusen to Anfield could rise to a British-record £116m and winger Jamie Gittens netted Dortmund £48.5m from Chelsea, with BVB now hoping for creative inspiration from 19-year-old Jobe Bellingham, signed from Sunderland for a first payment of £27.8m.
Leipzig sold targetman Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United for an initial £66.3m and Liverpool activated Leverkusen wideman Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause, although Ten Hag does now have USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman – signed for PSV for £34m – and former Reds defender Jarell Quansah to call upon.
What else is new in the 2025/26 Bundesliga?
Gerhard Struber left Cologne following their promotion and newly-appointed boss Lukas Kwasniok will target derby victories against the likes of Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen, while 34-year-old Merlin Polzin guided Hamburg to promotion by a point in second and will now experience their fierce rivalry with St Pauli, although second-tier top scorer Davie Selke has left the club for İstanbul Basaksehir.
Wolfsburg finished outside the top 10 for a second successive season following the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl in May but will be hoping for more under Paul Simonis, who led Go Ahead Eagles to seventh in the Eredivisie and the Dutch Cup.
Germany newcomer Nick Woltemade bagged 12 league goals last season and top-scored at Under-21 Euro, so German Cup holders Stuttgart’s prospects should improve considerably if they can fend off Bayern’s reported pursuit of the 23-year-old.
The absence of Thomas Muller is certain to be a strange sensation for Bayern and the Bundesliga. The forward’s total of 743 games in all competitions made him Die Roten’s all-time appearance record holder, but Muller ended his 25-year association with the club to join the Vancouver Whitecaps in August.
Bundesliga 2025/26 prediction
Backing against Bayern would be a brave call, with Ten Hag already repeating a curious line from his grim Manchester United reign that he cannot summon Harry Potter-style magic.
The good news for Leverkusen is that Patrik Schick is staying at the club until 2030. The bad news is that Bayern’s Harry Kane finished five league goals ahead of the Czechia forward and Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy – and the England captain will want to beat his extraordinary total of 26 goals and 10 assists in 31 top-flight games.
