Transfer news: Berisha to FCK, Brekalo to Hertha and Gruda to Leipzig

live blog

As of: February 2, 2026 4:32 p.m

“Deadline Day”, again: people discussing rumors. Sometimes a footballer changes at the end. We stick to the facts: An overview of those who are actually still changing today in the Bundesliga, the 2nd League and the Premier League.

The so-called “transfer window” closes at 8 p.m. in the Bundesliga and the 2nd League, meaning no more transfers to or within Germany are possible until the summer. This also applies to players who are currently without an employer. At the same time, the deadline in other top leagues, such as the Premier League, also ends this evening.

An overview of all of today’s transfers in the Bundesliga and Premier League. And about the most important changes in the 2nd league.

5:52 p.m

Bundesliga – Cologne is strengthening itself with the next talent

Now it’s official: Cologne is loaning 18-year-old talent Felipe Chávez from Bayern Munich until the end of the season. “The aim is to bring him step by step to the Bundesliga level and to give him the basis to establish himself there permanently“, FC managing director Thomas Kessler is quoted in the statement. The Peruvian Chávez, who was born in Bavaria, was trained in the youth ranks of FC Augsburg and FC Bayern and recently made two short appearances in the Bundesliga.

5:34 p.m

2nd League – Passlack moves to Scotland

Felix Passlack has appeared on the pitch 16 times for VfL Bochum this season – but has rarely been in the starting line-up. Now he is trying his luck in the Scottish capital. Fifth-placed Scottish Premiership team Hibernian Edinburgh has signed the former Dortmund player until 2029.

4:56 p.m

2nd League – Hertha gets Brekalo

Hertha BSC has gotten help for its planned promotion back to the Bundesliga. Josip Brekalo comes from Spain from bottom club Real Oviedo and signs a contract until the summer of 2026 with the option for another season. The signing of Brekalo was probably also made possible by the departure of Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson to Brann Bergen.

4:19 p.m

Bundesliga – Werder lends Alvero to France

Two years ago, Werder Bremen brought in Skelly Alvero as a hope for the midfield center. First he was on loan, then the Bundesliga club paid a sum in the millions. That didn’t work out: Alvero, 23, only played 20 Bundesliga games for Bremen. Now the Frenchman is moving back to his homeland. He will play there on loan for second division club FC Amiens until the end of the season.

“It’s important for Skelly to get more playing time,” Peter Niemeier, head of professional football at Werder, is quoted as saying in a club report. “He didn’t have that perspective with us recently.”

3:16 p.m

2nd League – Hertha lends Thorsteinsson

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson, 27, made ten appearances in the second division for Hertha BSC this season. But he was only in the starting line-up four times. Hertha has now awarded the 52-time Icelandic international player: Thorsteinsson will play for the Norwegian first division club SK Brann Bergen until the end of the season.

3:05 p.m

2nd league – a Ex-national player for Lautern

Mergim Berisha hasn’t played at all at TSG Hoffenheim this season. Now the club has found a buyer: Berisha is moving to the second division club 1. FC Kaiserslautern, who were looking for a dangerous attacker after Ivan Prtajin was out due to injury.

Berisha, 27, has already proven that he can score goals. There were nine in his most successful Bundesliga season in the FC Augsburg jersey. It wasn’t long ago that he was considered a great offensive talent – the then national coach Hans-Dieter Flick was also enthusiastic. He helped Berisha make two international appearances in 2023.

2:50 p.m

2nd League – KSC uses France

Hyeok-kyu Kwon has already played against PSG this season and will play in Germany’s second division in the future: Karlsruher SC has signed Kwon, 23, from FC Nantes in France’s Ligue 1. The South Korean Kwon made at least 12 appearances there this season; he was previously under contract with Celtic Glasgow in Scotland – but the defensive midfielder did not play there.

2:45 p.m

2nd League – Zalazar leaves Schalke 04

Departure from FC Schalke 04: Mauro Zalazar will play on loan for Sporting Braga in the second half of the season. His brother Rodrigo Zalazar, who was also once under contract with Schalke, already plays there. Mauro Zalazar only played once for a minute for the 2nd division leaders this season.

2nd League – Fürth lends Olesen

Matthias Olesen has already played 36 international matches for Luxembourg and 23 games in the Bundesliga for 1. FC Cologne – although he was not a regular player there. In the summer, Olesen moved to second division club Greuter Fürth in order to get more playing time – the plan didn’t work: twelve appearances after 20 match days, but he hasn’t played on the pitch yet this year. Now things continue for Olesen in Austria: Fürth has awarded him to the Grazer AK.

1:57 p.m

Bundesliga – Augsburg signs VfB talent

FC Augsburg has also added a promising player: Thomas Kastanaras comes from VfB Stuttgart, for whom he played four Bundesliga games in the 2022/23 season. Most recently, Kastanaras, 23, was only used in the second team. He hasn’t played a game this season due to a knee injury.

“He has a lot of potential that he hasn’t been able to fully show yet. We want to gradually build him up over playing time with the U23 and trust him to take the next step.”said FCA sports director Benjamin Weber, according to a club statement about Kastanaras, who is initially scheduled for Augsburg’s regional league reserves.

1:42 p.m

Bundesliga – Hoffenheim brings in youngsters from Paderborn

TSG Hoffenheim has signed Luis Engelns from SC Paderborn. In Paderborn, Engelns, 18, was an integral part of the professional squad and his statistics include 29 second division appearances. In Hoffenheim he is probably planned for the Bundesliga.

First of all, Engelns, the son of coach Daniel Farke (Leeds United), could be used in the reserve team. At TSG, Engelns should develop in peace, “Collect important playing time in the 3rd league and get used to the level in the Bundesliga”Paul Pajduch, the club’s technical director, was quoted as saying in a statement.

11:15 a.m

Bundesliga – Leipzig also brings in PSV talent

The second new signing for RB Leipzig on the last day of the “transfer window”: Leipzig has signed Ayodele Thomas, 18, from PSV Eindhoven. In Eindhoven, the Dutch U19 international played for the reserve team, which competes in the second division. He has signed a contract in Leipzig until 2031.

Thomas was obliged to “To give him the necessary time to get used to it, but also to have more depth on the wings”said Leipzig’s managing director Marcel Schäfer, according to a statement from the club.

10:00 a.m

Bundesliga – Leipzig signs Brajan Gruda on loan

RB Leipzig have signed Brajan Gruda from Brighton & Hove Albion on loan until the summer. Gruda, 21, became European runner-up with Germany’s U21 team last summer. He is considered a great talent and some see him as a future national player.

Leipzig wanted to sign Gruda as early as 2024 – but he preferred to move to England. At Brighton, German coach Fabian Hürzeler often relied on Gruda’s skills, but only in the starting line-up in every third appearance. Now Gruda will play for Leipzig after all. The number 10 jersey is reserved for him. He could make his debut on Saturday in Leipzig’s away game at 1. FC Köln.