Bundesliga: The 10 best signings of the season

The new Bundesliga season is approaching, and GoHandball’s reporter Ola Selby has ranked the league’s ten best signings.

Here are the top transfers this year:

1: Tobias Grøndahl, to Füchse Berlin from GOG Håndbold
One of the most talented and exciting playmakers out there. He only spent one season at GOG after moving from Elverum – and that’s hardly surprising, considering the high level the Norwegian displayed from start to finish. A smart signing by the reigning champions, adding both depth and quality to their backcourt lineup. Grøndahl looks like a perfect fit alongside Mathias Gidsel and Berlin’s dynamic playing style.

2: Elvar Örn Jonsson, to SC Magdeburg from MT Melsungen
When Magdeburg finally got healthy last season, they played exactly as well as expected. Felix Claar, Gisli Kristjansson, and Omar Ingi Magnusson dominated the backcourt, and the team was even better with Albin Lagergren available on the right side. Now they add Elvar Örn Jonsson – a strong and physical left back, and above all, a superb defender. This makes Magdeburg even more dangerous this season.

3: Marko Grgic, to SG Flensburg-Handewitt from Eisenach
Already one of the best players in the Bundesliga, as the young center/left back proved last season. He poured in goals and was nearly unstoppable for Eisenach. He was originally set to join Flensburg next year, but the club opened its wallet to secure the signing right away. Now, even more people will take notice of the immensely talented Grgic.

4: Luca Witzke, to SG Flensburg-Handewitt from Leipzig
Jim Gottfridsson is no longer the automatic first-choice playmaker at Flensburg. He wasn’t last season either, but he was still a reliable veteran presence. Now that the Swede has moved to Pick Szeged, Flensburg’s signing of Luca Witzke stands out – he was one of the Bundesliga’s best playmakers last season. Having already featured in several major tournaments for Germany, Witzke is at a high level – and still improving.

5, Gonzalo Perez de Vargas, to THW Kiel from Barcelona
The experienced goalkeeper suffered an injury late last season, and although Barcelona had Emil Nielsen in goal, it undoubtedly affected their Champions League title hopes. Now, Perez de Vargas heads to Kiel, where he’ll compete with Andreas Wolff for the starting spot. The team with the best goalkeeping duo often wins titles – which makes Kiel a serious contender this season.

6: Dani Baijens, to Rhein-Neckar Löwen from PSG
When he left Hamburg for PSG before last season, he was one of the hottest names in the Bundesliga. Baijens had become a top player in Hamburg, lighting up the league and attracting attention across Europe. Things didn’t quite click in Paris, but now the Dutchman returns to Germany – this time in the south – to boost a Rhein-Neckar Löwen side undergoing a partial rebuild.

7: Haukar Trastarson, to Rhein-Neckar Löwen from Dinamo Bucuresti
Speaking of Rhein-Neckar Löwen and rebuilding: Juri Knorr’s last two seasons weren’t especially sharp, and he’s now off to Aalborg. The arrival of Haukur Trastarson is hugely exciting – the Icelandic playmaker has an even higher ceiling than Knorr. Trastarson is a team-oriented player who will elevate those around him – something Löwen badly needs.

8: Kay Smits, to Gummersbach from SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Injuries and illness hampered Smits’ stint at Flensburg following his move from Magdeburg. Now the Dutch right back gets a fresh start at Gummersbach, a team that continues to impress under Gudjon Valur Gudjonsson. We all know what Smits is capable of – the question is whether he can show it at his new club. I believe he can.

9: Tomas Mrkva, to Leipzig from THW Kiel
The veteran goalkeeper joins his fifth German club with this move from Kiel to Leipzig. Mrkva had some standout games with the “Zebras,” but never became the number one after Andreas Wolff’s arrival. Now at 36, he’ll be the first-choice keeper again – something Leipzig desperately needs after a tough previous season.

10: Olle Forsell Schefvert, to MT Melsungen from Rhein-Neckar Löwen
One of the Bundesliga’s most underrated defenders now gets a career boost with his move to Melsungen. The club is building something here – remember, Johannes Golla will return to the club next year to form a central defensive pairing with the Swede. Forsell Schefvert is also a capable left back with a solid shot. A smart acquisition by Melsungen.