Union Berlin's New Signings Bring Optimism for Upcoming Bundesliga Season

The 1. FC Union Berlin is gearing up for the new Bundesliga season with renewed optimism following the acquisition of new players, including Oliver Burke and Ilyas Ansah. The club aims to refresh its squad and enhance its competitive edge.

With the departure of top scorer Benedict Hollerbach, who netted nine goals last season before transferring to Mainz, Union Berlin is determined to move forward with confidence. According to the club's managing director of professional football, the team is now better positioned to distribute responsibilities more evenly among its players. This shift is expected to foster a more dynamic and resilient squad.

Potential replacements for Hollerbach are ready to step up, including Andrej Ilic, who had a strong second half of the last season. Burke and Ansah are expected to significantly elevate the team's performance. Additionally, Marin Ljubicic made an immediate impact after joining during the winter transfer window.

The ongoing transfer window presents an opportunity for Union Berlin to not only reduce the size of their squad but also infuse it with youthful talent. The club has introduced several young players, including Oluwaseun Ogbemudia (18), Andrik Markgraf (19), Yannic Stein (20), David Preu (20), Livan Burcu (20), and Ilyas Ansah (20). Notably, Tom Rothe and Aljoscha Kemlein, both aged 20, are among the more experienced members of this young cohort.

As part of the preseason preparations, the team conducted routine medical assessments this week. While seasoned players like Rani Khedira and Lucas Tousart participated in medical checks at a local facility, the new signings underwent fitness evaluations at Union's training ground. Diogo Leite, a defender who has attracted interest from various European clubs, also participated in these evaluations.

The team is set to commence its preseason training in earnest at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Their first test match is scheduled against Brandenburger SC Süd 05 on Saturday, followed by a training camp that includes matches against LASK in Linz and Rapid Vienna. The team will also prepare for the DFB-Pokal first round, which begins on August 15 against FC Gütersloh.