Hoffenheim have confirmed another Dutch loan out for young attacking prospect Yannick Eduardo. The 20-year-old – signed by Hoffenheim from last January – will finally receive the chance to play in the Dutch Eredivisie with ADO den Hag. Previously, Eduardo worked in the Dutch second division during loan stints with De Graafschap, FC Emmen, and Dordrecht.  Who is Yannick Eduardo? The Czech-born striker is the son of an Angolan father and Czech mother. He moved to the Netherlands at the age of three and has represented both the Netherlands and Czech Republic at youth level. After joining the RB Leipzig academy in 2022, he was loaned out to the Eerste Divisive thrice by the German Red Bulls. During the 2024/25 campaign with Dordrecht, he scored 12 goals in 22 appearances. Hoffenheim sent Eduardo straight to their reserve team in the 3. Liga after signing him some seven months ago. He scored one goal and contributed two assists in 11 German third division appearances for TSG II last spring. At present, Eduardo’s estimated market value stands at €2.5m. He presently represents the Czech Republic at U21 level. Hoffenheim statement on Eduardo’s loan “We signed Yannick this winter because he has the ideal qualities to become a successful Bundesliga striker,” Hoffenheim academy director Frank Kramer noted in a club statement. “He has the right build, is physically strong, and attacks the opponent’s goal with both aggression and directness. These are all attributes that fit very well with our playing philosophy.”   “To continue developing as effectively as possible on his path to the Bundesliga, Yannick needs regular playing time at a high level,” Kramer continued. “He will now get that at ADO in the Netherlands, where he’ll be reunited with head coach Robin Peter, a familiar mentor from his time at RB Leipzig.” GGFN | Peter Weis

RB Leipzig midfielder Rocco Reitz addressed the criticism he received for leaving his long-time academy club when speaking at his official introductory press conference on Monday afternoon. Reitz – a Duisburg-native – worked in the Borussia Mönchengladbach academy from 2009 onwards. Fan protests accompanied the 24-year-old’s decision to depart the only club he had hitherto represented for one of the Bundesliga’s more unpopular clubs.  Reitz freely admitted that all the flack directed his way did affect him. The player’s primary coping mechanism involved relying upon his family and engaging with social media as little as possible. How Reitz will react to the fact that Gladbach are headed back to Leipzig to contest the 2026/27 Bundesliga season opener remains to be seen. The Germany U21 international also responded to a question about the random scheduling quirk. Rocco Reitz speaks on the Gladbach protests “Yes, of course one notices all of it,” Reitz responded on what it felt like to see Gladbach fans protest against him whilst he was donning the captain’s armband whilst playing a late-season match in Leipzig. “It’s not as if it all rolls of your shoulders, but I think having a stable environment [helps]. My wife and my kids helped me out a lot. Of course, my father, my brother and the rest of my immediate family. “I think it’s also important to spend very little time on social media and focus on the important things,” Reitz continued. “At the end of the day, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Whether it’s right or wrong is for others to judge. For me, it was all more-or-less okay.“ Reitz on immediately facing Gladbach again “A slight smirk immediately crossed my lips,” Reitz answered in response to the subsequent question about the season opener. “I thought, there’s more craziness. I’m really looking forward to it, especially seeing the lads again after I wasn’t able to really say goodbye properly given the way things turned out. “I’m happy to welcome the guys and compete against them,” Reitz continued. “I get to say goodbye and then hello again. Once we’re all on the pitch, it’s all about the three points [at stake]. I hope we’ll be able to keep the points here.“ GGFN | Peter Weis

Hamburg captain Yussuf Poulsen and his head coach Merlin Polzin have given indications that the Danish international will not be serving as the Bundesliga squad’s skipper in the forthcoming league campaign. Polzin’s decision to award Poulsen the captaincy led to the relatively young coach incurring plenty of criticism last season. The fact that – during Hamburg’s first pre-season game of the season on Saturday afternoon – Poulsen was only capable of playing 33 minutes hasn’t helped matters. It looks to be another season of careful injury management for last summer’s blockbuster transfer. The captain’s armband may go to someone else. Yussuf Poulsen grappled with five injury related absences last year The 86-times-capped Danish international remains only 32-years-of age. Poulsen nevertheless managed only one start in his paltry 15 Bundesliga appearances, lasting just over an hour during a matchday ten draw against Borussia Dortmund in November of 2025. A few weeks later, Poulsen scored his lone league goal for Hamburg in a December derby victory over northern regional rivals Werder Bremen.  At only one point in his 15 league substitute appearances was Poulsen introduced before the hour-mark. Poulsen’s struggles with various injuries have been going on for over two years now. The former RB Leipzig legend has, as a result, spent the entire summer rehabbing at the training facility of his hometown club Lyngby in Copenhagen. Poulsen did score in the 3-2 away loss to Austria Wien. Hamburg statements on the matter “We knew beforehand that Yussi could go for half an hour,” Polzin – as quoted by Kicker – noted after the match. “We didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. Yussi’s body is what it is. He’s an important part of our team, whatever his playing time and whatever his role. “Just one start for him last season was, of course, unsatisfactory for both him and us,” Polzin still went on to say. “We have to draw lessons from that. Yussi is full of energy and really looking forward to a season with more starts. “But the team isn’t complete yet,” Polzin concluded. “There are issues that need to be discussed internally first before they’re made public.” “I’m not afraid and will do whatever is asked of me,” Poulsen – for his part – said. GGFN | Peter Weis

Kicker reports that Hoffenheim attacker Fisnik Asllani’s move to RB Leipzig is looking increasingly likely. The 23-year-old remained did not partake in Hoffenheim’s first pre-season friendly yesterday due to the fact that his current Bundesliga club does not wish to risk injury ahead of his departure. The Kraichgauer hope to move the €35m-valued attacker soon.  Asllani has been linked with a host of other Bundesliga clubs this summer, including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The player himself is rumored to prefer a move abroad. It nevertheless looks to be the case that interest from Barcelona will not result in a transfer. Barça prefer to meet their attacking needs by acquiring Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid. What is holding up Fisnik Asllani’s transfer to RB Leipzig? The German Red Bulls currently maintain a 35-man-squad. Generally speaking, most Bundesliga clubs strive to enter the season with around 30 active players on the payroll. The Saxons must thus make room. Danish striker Conrad Harder and Brazilian Romulu are candidates for departure on the RB front. All told, it remain to be seen if Asllani will actually move to Leipzig this summer. One can say that – amid all of the other clubs Asllani is linked with – Leipzig appears the most likely destination at this point.  GGFN | Peter Weis

Austrian met Forest owner over seafood platter in Athens‘He’s one of few people who’s more ambitious than I am’Oliver Glasner said he wants to bring back the “sweet honey” of European football to Nottingham Forest and suggested the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, may be one of few people more ambitious than him. Glasner revealed talks with Marinakis over a seafood platter in Athens convinced him to become Forest’s fifth head coach in less than 12 months, the Austrian signing a three-year contract after a fruitful two years at Crystal Palace.Glasner met the Forest squad on Monday, his first day, and said he is enthused by the scope for the club to grow after a season in which they avoided relegation and reached the Europa League semi-finals. Forest are pushing to make the Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall their club-record signing as they seek to replace Elliot Anderson, who is leaving for Manchester City. Glasner is hopeful he will have at least two new signings join them on next week’s Portugal training camp, with the midfielder Xavier Schlager close to joining on a free after leaving RB Leipzig. Continue reading...

As reported by Florian Plettenberg, TSG Hoffenheim have secured the signing of 17-year-old Nathan De Cat for a whopping €17m.  The defensive midfielder is joining from Belgian side Anderlecht, where he came through the academy before making 29 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League last season.  De Cat’s impressive appearances for Anderlecht also earned him his first senior cap for Belgium last March in a 5-2 victory over the United States.  A number of top European clubs, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig, have all been monitoring the midfielder. However, Hoffenheim, a club known for developing young players before selling them for profit, appear to have won the race.  The 17-year-old also featured in one Europa League match last season as well as four Conference League qualifiers. With Hoffenheim competing in the Europa League this season, expect the teenager to play a part in a campaign that TSG hopes will be a successful one.  De Cat will complete his medical very soon and sign a long-term contract until 2031.  GGFN | Jamie Allen

While England conceded twice to Mexico and survived a siege at Azteca, numbers show a performance of true gritWas this England’s best performance since 1966? On the surface, England conceded 20 shots in their 3-2 win against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium – which sounds alarming.Yet if you drill into the numbers, the 19 non-penalty shots they faced were collectively worth only 1.09 expected goals (xG). Thomas Tuchel’s men defended superbly. Continue reading...

RB Leipzig are demanding at least €60m for 21-year-old winger Antonio Nusa, according to Sky Germany, despite English media outlets recently reporting a figure of €50m. Clubs like Newcastle United, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, and Bayern Munich have all shown interest in the Norwegian winger, who is currently playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Sky, the 21-year-old is not considered untouchable this summer, but Leipzig would prefer to keep the player. However, because of financial reasons, Leipzig need to sell one player for a considerable fee this summer, be it Nusa, Yan Diomande or Castello Lukeba. The former Club Brugge attacker holds a contract at Leipzig until 2029 having joined for €21m in 2024 – he’s also made 31 Bundesliga appearances in the 2025/26 season, scoring four goals and providing three assists and managed to score in the crucial last-32 game against Ivory Coast for Norway at the World Cup.  GGFN | Brook Genene

Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and Portuguese side Benfica are both interested in signing 24-year-old Polish winger Jakub Kaminski, according to The Express. Kaminski is free to leave for €20m due to the release clause in his agreement. However, the release clause only works until mid-July, so clubs are in a hurry to get a deal done.  Brighton & Hove Albion were long considered the favourites to sign the player. It was even reported this past week that the deal was finalised between the Polish star and the Premier League club. However, Brighton now face strong competition from Leipzig and Benfica. Kaminski, who primarily plays as a left winger but can also play deeper as a left midfielder as well as an attacking midfielder, appeared in all 34 league games for Cologne last season, scoring seven goals and creating a further three. GGFN | Brook Genene

AZ Alkmaar’s Sven Mijnans (26) is coming off his best season yet having struck 21 goals and created a further nine in 50 games across all competitions, which has attracted interest from Bundesliga trio RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. However, contrary to Dutch reports, no offer has, of yet, been rejected. The 26-year-old has a reported €15m release clause for foreign clubs, but PSV Eindhoven, who have a significant influx of money following Ismael Saibari’s departure to Bayern Munich for €50m, are also interested. When it comes to Leipzig’s interest in Mijnans, Philipp Hinze adds that new head coach Martin Demichelis is heavily involved in squad planning as they prepare for the 2026/27 campaign. In addition to Mijnans, Leipzig also want to bring Brajam Gruda back to the club, but would rather re-sign the German youth international on loan with an obligation to buy. GGFN | Daniel Pinder