The Bundesliga’s new arrivals: 10 signings to watch this season

The Bundesliga has once again attracted some of the biggest names in European handball, with proven stars and rising talents joining Germany’s elite.

Johannes Golla, MT Melsungen – from SG Flensburg-Handewitt

In 2018, Golla left “his” MT Melsungen for Flensburg. After winning several titles and becoming a club icon, the German international is now returning to where it all began.

Golla is one of the best line players in the world and an outstanding leader. Equally effective at both ends of the court, his return should give Melsungen a major boost at the line.

And there is something rather fitting about seeing him back where his Bundesliga journey started.

Andreas Palicka, Füchse Berlin – from HSG Wetzlar

Recently turned 40 and still, somehow, one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Palicka had a quite extraordinary 2025/26 season. It began in Kolstad, was interrupted by a serious injury that almost kept him out of the European Championship, included the end of an incredible international career with Sweden and continued with a move away from financially troubled Kolstad.

He eventually signed for Berlin but finished the season with Wetzlar. Now he has the unenviable task of replacing Dejan Milosavljev, who has moved to Kielce. Don’t bet against Palicka proving once again that he belongs among the world’s elite.

Aymeric Minne, SG Flensburg-Handewitt – from HBC Nantes

Minne was the best player in the French league last season and will immediately be given a major role at Flensburg. And Flensburg need players like him. The club are looking to close the gap to Magdeburg and Berlin, and adding an attacking force of Minne’s calibre should make them considerably more dangerous.

He is no longer “just” a fast and explosive player. Minne has developed into a complete attacking player, capable of controlling games as well as creating chaos with his speed.

With him on the court, Flensburg should be several levels better offensively.

Julian Köster, THW Kiel – from VfL Gummersbach

Another one of those classic handball transfers that was announced long before it actually happened. Köster even spent another full season at Gummersbach after now joining Kiel. And what a season it was.

The 26-year-old became better, more complete and more dominant. While Köster is certainly capable of making an impact in attack, his biggest strength remains his defensive work. That is particularly interesting for Kiel, whose defence has been anything but reliable in recent years.

If Köster can immediately improve that area, Kiel could look like a very different team.

Dominik Kuzmanović, SC Magdeburg – from VfL Gummersbach

Kuzmanović was one of the Bundesliga’s best goalkeepers last season, particularly after the European Championship break, when scoring against Gummersbach became an extremely difficult task.

He is quick, intelligent and capable of completely shutting down an opponent. Add a serious Balkan-style winning mentality and Magdeburg may have found a gem.

Kuzmanović will now form a goalkeeper partnership with his Croatian national-team teammate Matej Mandić.

Domen Makuc, THW Kiel – from Barcelona

This one must still hurt Barcelona.

Especially after what Makuc produced following the European Championship break in January. It was as if everything suddenly clicked for the young Slovenian, who was without a doubt one of the best players in the world during the second half of last season.

Makuc is close to being a complete backcourt player and should make Kiel a significantly more dangerous team.

Alex Dujshebaev, VfL Gummersbach – from Vive Kielce

No, Dujshebaev is not the player he was a few years ago, when there was a legitimate argument that he was the best player in the world. But he is still a top-class player who can decide games almost single-handedly.

When he left Kielce, many probably expected him to end up at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. Instead, he has chosen a Gummersbach side that is steadily moving upwards under Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson.

With Dujshebaev and Kay Smits on the right side, Gummersbach should have no shortage of goals from there.

Luca Sigrist, MT Melsungen – from HC Kriens-Luzern

Sigrist was outstanding for Kriens-Luzern in the European League last season. He may not have been the very best player in the competition, but he was unquestionably among the top five. And despite being only 20, he is already a dominant figure for Switzerland.

Sigrist can do almost everything offensively and is comfortable operating on both sides of the backcourt, although the middle is clearly where he is at his best.

He may need some time to adjust to the physical demands of the Bundesliga, but Melsungen could have a future star on their hands – potentially even the key player with a capital K in a few years.

Nikola Roganović, VfL Gummersbach – from HK Malmö

If he is not the most exciting young player in the world, he is certainly one of them. Roganović has already won a youth title with Sweden, taken an unfancied HK Malmö to the Swedish league final and made his senior championship debut.

He could probably have chosen almost any club he wanted. He opted for Gummersbach, who under Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson have developed a reputation as an excellent environment for young players.

I don’t expect Roganović to dominate the Bundesliga immediately. But give him a few years, and he could become one of the best players in the world.

Emil Bergholt, SG Flensburg-Handewitt – from Skjern Håndbold

An outsider for this list? Perhaps. But Bergholt has been around the Danish national-team setup for several years and was arguably the best line player in the Danish league last season.

Now he has to replace fellow Dane Lukas Jørgensen, who has moved to Veszprém.

Flensburg will need Bergholt to maintain their high level at the line, and his versatility should make that a realistic expectation.