Europe

I Left My Heart at the Weserstadion

The Bundesliga season just concluded and already there’s been a flurry of player movement.  Below is a recap of some of the more prominent signings from the first part of the transfer period.

MF – Tim Borowski from Werder Bremen to FC Bayern Munich

With Bayern Munich back in the Champions League, Borowski brings much needed depth to the club’s midfield.  Any time you sign a top player from your rival (see Miroslav Klose), celebrations are in order.  Die Bayern continue the trend with this season’s transfer of Borowski who played his entire career at the Weserstadion.  The midfielder recently was called to the German provisional squad for Euro 2008.

D – Marc Stein from Hansa Rostock to Hertha BSC Berlin

With their relegation finalized, Hansa now is faced with the cruel reality of having to sell off top-tier players to make financial ends meet.  Stein saw action in 55 league games since 2005 and now will be called upon to bolster The Blue-Whites defense.

F – Jan Schlaudraff from Bayern Munich to Hannover 96

When you look around and see Toni, Klose, and Podolski lining up at your position, you tend to move on down the road. With super prospects Sandro Wagner and Daniel Sikorski also coming up the ranks, Jan was the odd man out.

D – Christian Zaccardo from Palermo to VfL Wolfsburg

The right back brings a wealth of Serie A experience and a 2006 World Cup medal with him to Wolfsburg.  The deal looks all but finalized for next season as Wolfsburg prepares for the UEFA Cup.  Soccer blogger Phillip Boran who keeps a keen eye on Die Wölfe commented on the signing, “Wolfsburg has some good players on that squad, and it proves that they’re becoming bigger and bigger season by season with this signing.”

Also moving…

D – Philipp Degan from Borussia Dortmund to Liverpool FC

D – Felipe Santana from Figueirense to Borussia Dortmund

D – Markus Steinhofer from Red Bull Salzburg to Eintracht Frankfurt

MF – Paul Frier from Bayer Leverkusen to VfL Bochum

MF – Eugen Polanski from Borussia Monchengladbach to Getafe CF (unconfirmed)