With three weeks to go until the start of the Bundesliga season, we take a look at the top three signings for all of the 18 teams in the German top flight. Rather than starting with the obvious in Munich, we kick off with their first opponents, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Kasim Adams Nuhu (Young Boys Berne, €8m)
Hoffenheim's biggest purchase of the summer is 23 year old Ghanaian international Kasim Adams Nunu, who heads across the border after a championship-winning season in the Swiss Super League with Young Boys Berne.
An ever-present in YB's successful domestic campaign, Adams notched up 32 appearances and scored two goals, establishing himself as a solid and dependable centre-back after signing from Spanish outfit RCD Mallorca.
The Hoff have shelled out 8 million Euro for the Ghanaian, who has made four appearances at full international level, scoring two goals.
Leonardo Bittencourt (1. FC Köln, €6m)
Picked up from from relegated Köln, Leonardo Bittencourt was once touted as a future Germany international. The son of Brazilian and VfB Leipzig stalwart Franklin Bittencourt, the versatile midfielder has slipped out the international reckoning, but has established himself in the Bundesliga.
A poor year at Borussia Dortmund was followed by a more successful spell at Hannover 96, and after that a three-year stint in Cologne where he scored eleven goals in 69 appearances.
The 24 year old former German Under-21 player is a promising signing for Julian Nagelsmann's side, at what could well be a bargain price of 6 million Euro.
Vincenzo Grifo (Borussia Mönchengladbach, €5.5m)
German-Italian Vincenzo Grifo has never really set the world alight, but is another solid addition to the Hoffenheim squad.
With an excellent return of 20 goals in 55 matches for SC Freiburg between 2015 and 2017, Grifo moved to Mönchengladbach with high hopes, but things failed to ignite.
Having signed the then 24 year old for 6 million Euro last season, Die Fohlen have taken the hit, releasing the former Italian Under-21 international for just 5.5 million Euro just one year into a planned four year contract. Can Nagelsmann work his magic and relight Grifo's fire?
For more Bundesliga fun stuff, check out my Little Bundesliga Book project. Copies of the 2016 pocket book are still available, with the aim of raising funds for a new edition at the end of this season.
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