Footsteps of Undav & Hollerbach
© Imago
The 3rd league had some highlights to offer in the past season: With Dynamo Dresden and Arminia Bielefeld, two traditional clubs return to the 2nd Bundesliga, several new spectator records were set up and numerous exciting talents emerged. In the recent past, professionals such as Benedict Hollerbach or Deniz Undav made their breakthrough in the 3rd division. Transfer market looks at the shooting stars this season.
Said El Mala: Next year Bundesliga professional?
Said El Mala has had an outstanding season. The 18 -year -old left wing scored 13 goals for Viktoria Cologne in 32 games and prepared five. The U19 international played a significant role in the fact that Viktoria achieved the best third division placement in history with sixth place. “He captivates with an outstanding technique and has now also discovered the score of the goal,” said third division expert Johannes Netzer as part of the first market value update of the season. Its market value climbed from 300,000 to 1 million euros.
El Mala was trained in the youth of Borussia Mönchengladbach, in which U17 sorted out and landed on TSV Meerbusch near Viktoria Cologne. There the 1st FC Köln became aware of the offensive player and in the summer of 2024 paid 300,000 to the Viktoria, for which he ran in loan this season. At FC, El Mala is under contract until 2029, so that he could debut in the Bundesliga in the coming season.
Julian Hettwer: 22 Scorers cannot prevent BVB relegation
After four years in the 3rd division, the U23 of Borussia Dortmund has to go to the Regionalliga West. With Julian Hettwer, however, the second representation of the black and yellow represents one of the best players of the season. The 21-year-old left wing was involved in 22 goals in 26 missions and made it into the top 5 of the scorer of the 3rd league. “He was able to increase his strong achievements from previous years this season. So Hettwer shot himself at the notes of various clubs,” said Netzer.
Although he is perhaps not a real shooting star, he has clearly emerged and recommended for larger tasks. Hettwer’s market value climbed from 800,000 to EUR 1.3 million and the “Rheinische Post” reported in March that he should agree with Fortuna Düsseldorf. The contract of the offensive player, who came to the second team of Dortmund for 500,000 euros from MSV Duisburg in 2023, ends this summer. In addition to the Fortuna, some other second division clubs like promoted Cologne were associated with him.
Deniz Zeitler: “One of the most exciting talents of the 3rd league”
Deniz Zeitler from FC Ingolstadt has a steep climb behind him. The 18 -year -old attacker pushed from the club’s U19 to the professionals in the summer and let his class flash in his first year in the first year. With eight goals in 31 games, he was the best scorer of the Ingolstadt -based company to Sebastian Grönning, who switched to Hertha BSC. He was also able to shine four times as a preparer – on average he was involved in one goal every 133 minutes.
“Zeitler is one of the most exciting talents of the 3rd league. Although the 18-year-old would still be eligible to play for the A-youth, he already plays an important role in FC Ingolstadt,” said Netzer at the market value update in March. The German-Turk is still tied to the FCI until 2027, but should be on the piece after the good season with some higher-class clubs.
Sean Dulic: Does he have to let him go in 1860?
Since his debut in December, Sean Dulic has been on the side of captain Jesper Verlaat at 1860 Munich and has been an integral part of the first eleven. “The whole team knows from Sean’s strengths. He is a duel, has a good timing in the duels, a very good pace,” said his next man about the 19 -year -old central defender, who was trained in the youth of the lions. Dulic comes to 20 missions in his debut season in the 3rd league.
How long Dulic will appear for the sixties is in the stars. According to reports, several higher -class clubs are said to have registered interest and his contract runs until 2026, so the coming summer could be the last option for a transfer. With Kevin Volland and Florian Niederlechner, the Munich team, who landed in a disappointing eleventh place, are upgrading, but what Dulic could convince.
Elias Bethke: The long -running favorite of Energie Cottbus
After five years in the Regionalliga Nordost, Energie Cottbus reported back in the 3rd league and was allowed to dream of climb for a long time. A guarantee for the good season of the Lausitzer, which ended a little disappointing with fourth place due to the weak final cathedral, was goalkeeper Elias Bethke. The 22-year-old did not miss a minute in the past season and thus became the permanent favorite of the FCE. It was able to double its market value with an increase of 300,000 to 550,000 euros.
Bethke, who conquered his regular place in the second half of the season in the 2023/24 season, remained twelve without conceding a goal and showed convincing performances. According to media reports, it could also move to the Bundesliga because he should switch to Union Berlin as number two. His contract in Cottbus is still dated until 2027, so that it could bring energy to the highest replacement for more than ten years.