Transfer Ticker: New striker for Fortuna, Wörl back to Bielefeld

• Fortuna Düsseldorf loans striker Celar
• Wörl returns to Bielefeld
• Dortmund lets Reyna move to the other Borussia
• Ticker: All transfers and moves of the NRW clubs

Fortuna Düsseldorf has signed Slovenian striker Zan Celar. The center forward joins the Rhineland club on loan from English second-division side Queens Park Rangers. Fortuna Düsseldorf also secured a purchase option for the 17-time capped international. Celar arrived in London in the summer of 2024. However, an injury slowed the attacker's progress early on. In his debut season, he made only 24 competitive appearances and scored two goals. He had previously caused a stir in Switzerland, scoring 40 goals in 95 league matches for FC Lugano.

Arminia Bielefeld has brought back midfielder Marius Wörl from league rivals Hannover 96. The 21-year-old is joining the East Westphalian club on a permanent basis, as both clubs announced. The Bavarian native's contract with Hannover was originally valid until 2027. Wörl has already played for Arminia for the past two seasons – albeit on loan. With Bielefeld, he achieved promotion to the 2. Bundesliga and reached the DFB-Pokal final last season.

The transfer of Giovanni Reyna from Borussia Dortmund to Borussia Mönchengladbach is complete. As the club from the Lower Rhine region announced, the 22-year-old attacker has signed a contract until June 30, 2028. The transfer had been speculated about for days.

Second-division football club Karlsruher SC has loaned striker Shio Fukuda from Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach. As the Baden-Württemberg club announced on Friday, there is also a contractually agreed purchase option for next summer. The striker moved from his native Japan to the Lower Rhine region at the age of 18, but failed to make a breakthrough. In his eleven first-division appearances, he played just 87 minutes.

Central defender Jamil Siebert is leaving second-division club Fortuna Düsseldorf to continue his career in Italy's Serie A. The 23-year-old joins first-division club US Lecce with immediate effect. The Düsseldorf native has progressed through all of Fortuna's youth teams since 2010 and made his 2. Bundesliga debut in the 2020/21 season. "It is with a heavy heart that we are letting Jamil go. On the other hand, we wanted to give him the opportunity to take advantage of this great opportunity," said Klaus Allofs, Fortuna's Board Member for Sport and Communications.

Second-division club Schalke 04 has strengthened its squad with Finn Porath. The 28-year-old midfielder has signed a contract with Gelsenkirchen until 2027. "Finn is a versatile player who has performed well in Kiel for years," says Youri Mulder, Director of Football. "With his intense style of play and his keen eye for game situations, he fits in very well with our team."

Bayer Leverkusen announced three transfers on Wednesday. First, the departure of Amine Adli to AFC Bournemouth was announced. Shortly thereafter, Adli's replacement, Argentinian midfielder Claudio Echeverri, was announced. The 19-year-old joins the club on a one-year loan from Manchester City. The Leverkusen club also announced the signing of French central defender Loïc Badé. The German international joins from Sevilla FC and has signed a contract until 2030.

Sebastien Haller is leaving Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund for good. As BVB announced, the striker is now moving permanently to FC Utrecht in the Netherlands. Haller is returning to a club "that means a lot to him and for which he has played regularly in recent months," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl. The striker was already loaned to the Eredivisie club last season and also played there from 2015 to 2017.

Taylan Bulut will play for Besiktas Istanbul in the future. The Turkish first division club and FC Schalke 04 agreed on an immediate transfer of the 19-year-old on Saturday. The transfer fee is unknown, but it is reportedly around six million euros. "We as a club have been in close contact with Taylan and his agent in recent weeks. The move to Besiktas is the right decision for everyone, both from a sporting and financial perspective," said Youri Mulder, Director of Professional Football at FC Schalke 04.

1. FC Köln continues its shopping spree, signing Dutch U21 international Rav van den Berg. The 1.90-meter-tall defender is moving from English club Middlebrough FC to the Bundesliga and, with a reported transfer fee of between eight and ten million euros, is Cologne's record signing this summer. The 21-year-old is also the newly promoted club's tenth new signing.

Moritz Broschinski is leaving Bundesliga relegated side VfL Bochum two games into the season and is moving to Switzerland with FC Basel. The striker scored for VfL in the 4-1 loss at Darmstadt 98 at the start of the season, his sixth goal in 76 competitive matches. He also provided seven assists. "We have emphasized that none of our players is unsellable, and we have to weigh the sporting value against the financial value of every potential transfer," said Sporting Director Dirk Dufner.

Broschinski (24) was entering the final year of his contract, and "we had no prospect of an extension." The "extraordinary offer from FC Basel" then "clearly shifted the balance toward economic viability."

Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen has signed attacker Ernest Poku from Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar. The Dutch U-21 international has signed a contract with the Werkself until 2030, the German runners-up announced. According to media reports, the 21-year-old will receive a transfer fee of approximately ten million euros plus bonuses.

Bayer Leverkusen has signed goalkeeper Janis Blaswich from RB Leipzig. The 34-year-old signed a contract with the Werkself until June 30, 2027, the club announced. Blaswich joins as a replacement for Lukas Hradecky, who has transferred to AS Monaco.

Vincent Vermeij is leaving Fortuna Düsseldorf and joining league rivals Dynamo Dresden with immediate effect. Both clubs have agreed not to disclose the terms of the transfer. The 31-year-old striker moved to Düsseldorf from SC Freiburg II in the summer of 2023. During his time at Fortuna, Vermeij made a total of 57 competitive appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing four assists. During the 2023/24 season, the Dutchman was Fortuna's second-best goalscorer with 14 goals in competitive matches.

Bundesliga newcomers 1. FC Köln have signed Turkish international Cenk Özkacar for their defensive line. The 24-year-old joins on loan from Valencia CF.

Bayer Leverkusen's long-time regular goalkeeper and team captain Lukas Hradecky is moving to AS Monaco with immediate effect. The Finnish national team goalkeeper has signed a two-year contract with the French Ligue 1 club until June 2027. According to media reports, Bayer is expected to pay at least three million euros for the goalkeeper.

"Despite his contract still being valid for a year, we have granted Lukas Hradecky early release after very friendly discussions. It was his wish to be able to play as number one in the Champions League once again after a great and intensive time at Bayer 04," said Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes, according to a club statement.

Borussia Mönchengladbach's defensive leader Ko Itakura is moving to Ajax Amsterdam. Borussia will receive a double-digit million euro transfer fee. The 28-year-old has signed a contract with the Dutch Champions League participant until June 2029, Ajax announced. According to media reports, Borussia will receive a transfer fee of €10.5 million for Itakura, which could increase by another €1.5 million through bonuses.

"Ko is an outstanding footballer and an outstanding person who has left his mark during his time here at Borussia," said Gladbach's sporting director Roland Virkus, according to a club statement. "He is a quality player who has always put himself at the service of the cause. We therefore respect his wish to be able to demonstrate these qualities in the Champions League in the future."

Second-division football club Fortuna Düsseldorf is further strengthening its attack after a disappointing start. Fortuna has loaned Florent Muslija from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg until the end of the season and, according to the club's statement on Friday, has also secured a purchase option.

Muslija (27) brings experience from 125 second-division matches (29 goals, 14 assists), most of them for SC Paderborn. He can play at number 10 or on the attacking wing positions; he failed to establish himself in Freiburg in one and a half years.

Preußen Münster has responded to the cruciate ligament injury of new signing Antonio Tikvic by signing Jannis Heuer on loan from 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Both clubs confirmed the transfer of the 26-year-old defender. "Antonio's injury was an absolute shock for us, and we had to react to it quickly. We've been monitoring Jannis for some time and now had the opportunity to bring him to Münster," said Münster's sporting director Ole Kittner.

Striker Steffen Tigges is leaving 1. FC Köln after three seasons. The 27-year-old will play for second-division club SC Paderborn. Tigges made a total of 81 competitive appearances for the Billy Goats, scoring ten goals. According to the club, however, his chances of regular Bundesliga appearances have "significantly diminished." Paderborn, on the other hand, are looking forward to a "strong-running and physically very present striker in his prime."

Bundesliga newcomers Cologne have made another move in the transfer market, signing left-back Kristoffer Lund. The US international with Danish roots joins from Italian club Palermo FC and will initially join on loan. Whether there is an option to buy is unknown.

"Kristoffer brings exactly the profile we're looking for on the left wing. Despite his young age, he already brings valuable international experience. By signing him, we're specifically increasing the quality and competition at left-back – this is an important building block in our squad structure," says Thomas Kessler, sporting director of 1. FC Köln.

Bundesliga newcomer 1. FC Köln has strengthened its attacking lineup by signing Marius Bülter from league rivals TSG Hoffenheim. As Cologne announced on Thursday, the 32-year-old left winger signed a contract until 2027 (with an option for a further season). According to media reports, the transfer fee, including bonuses, is said to be between one million and 1.5 million euros. "Marius not only brings versatility and Bundesliga experience, but has also made it very clear in discussions with us that he is passionate about the job at 1. FC Köln," said Cologne's sporting director Thomas Kessler.

After weeks of transfer wrangling, midfielder Granit Xhaka is finally leaving runners-up Bayer Leverkusen. The 32-year-old, who has played for the Werkself since summer 2023, is moving to AFC Sunderland. The newly promoted English Premier League club accepted the Bundesliga club's transfer terms, which subsequently granted the Swiss player, whose contract runs until 2028, his early release, the club announced.

Second-division soccer club 1. FC Magdeburg has signed attacker Noah Pesch from Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach. Both clubs announced this on Tuesday. The 20-year-old is Magdeburg's seventh new signing and arrives on loan from the Lower Rhine region. "The 2. Bundesliga is the perfect next step in his development," said Borussia's sporting director Roland Virkus. Magdeburg is also pleased with the transfer. "He brings dynamism and goal threat – two qualities that will benefit our game. We are convinced that he will help us progress," said Magdeburg's sporting director Otmar Schork.

Bayer Leverkusen has loaned new signing Abdoulaye Faye to French second-division champions FC Lorient for a year. The 20-year-old central defender is expected to gain match practice in Ligue 1, according to the Bundesliga club. The Werkself signed the Senegalese from Swedish first-division club BK Häcken this summer and signed him to a long-term contract until 2030. "Abdoulaye Faye has great potential. He has the quality to become an important part of our squad in the future," said Bayer's sporting director Simon Rolfes, according to a club statement. "We see the loan to Lorient as the best option to ensure he gets as much playing time as possible at a high level."

A few days before the start of the 2. Bundesliga season, Preußen Münster has signed central defender Antonio Tikvic, likely making a new record transfer. The 21-year-old defender joins from English second division club Watford, the club announced. According to media reports, the transfer fee is estimated to be up to €700,000. Tikvic will wear the number 4 shirt at the club.

The Hamburg native with Croatian roots has played a minor role at Watford FC recently. He was loaned to Grazer AK in the second half of last season. The 1.95-meter-tall defender was a regular in 15 matches in the Austrian Bundesliga.

A few days before the start of the new second division season, FC Schalke 04 signed central defender Hasan Kurucay. The 27-year-old has signed a contract with the Royal Blues until June 30, 2027, as the second division club announced. At Schalke, he will wear the number 4 shirt.

"With Hasan, we are signing a strong, tackling central defender with a clear body language. As a right-footer, he also feels very comfortable in the left center-back position and is familiar with the 2. Bundesliga. With this overall package, he fits in with us," said Youri Mulder, Director of Professional Football, according to the club's statement.

SC Paderborn has loaned John Posselt to third-division newcomers TSV Havelse until the end of the 2025/2026 season. The 21-year-old attacking talent, whom Paderborn signed from Lübeck this summer, will gain match practice and take the next step.

Borussia Dortmund is loaning goalkeeper Diant Ramaj to league rivals 1. FC Heidenheim for one year. As BVB announced on Monday, the deal does not include an option to buy. Dortmund signed the 23-year-old from Ajax Amsterdam in February and immediately transferred him to FC Copenhagen. "After his successful loan in Copenhagen, we are delighted that he can now prove himself in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Heidenheim," said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl. In the second half of last season, Ramaj made 19 appearances for Copenhagen, winning the Danish championship and the Danish cup. Gregor Kobel is BVB's first-choice goalkeeper.

After a test of patience, Fortuna Düsseldorf has signed its dream attacking player. The 28-year-old Swiss Cedric Itten joins from Young Boys Bern and is set to replace Dawid Kownacki, who now plays for league rivals Hertha BSC. Itten, Fortuna's ninth summer signing, reportedly cost just over one million euros. He scored 48 goals and provided 20 assists in 128 competitive matches for Young Boys.

Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen has signed Farid Alfa-Ruprecht. The 19-year-old German youth international transfer from Manchester City's U21 team has signed a contract with Leverkusen until June 2030, Bayer announced on Sunday. According to media reports, a transfer fee of just over one million euros is due for the winger.

Leverkusen has signed their next top talent, Malian striker Ndjicoura Bomba. The 17-year-old will join the Rhineland from his hometown club CS Bamako as soon as he reaches adulthood in March.

Borussia Mönchengladbach has signed striker Shuto Machino from Bundesliga relegated side Holstein Kiel. As Borussia announced on Saturday, the 25-year-old signed a contract with the Bundesliga club until June 30, 2029.

Our sources:

• News agencies SID and dpa
• Press releases from the clubs