In the 2nd Bundesliga, very little is happening on the winter transfer market. Only Darmstadt 98 is spending a lot of money. Most clubs are again relying on loan deals.

The clubs of the 2nd Bundesliga have once again held back on the transfer market during the winter break – with one exception. SV Darmstadt 98, at the top of the league, bought Filip Stojilkovic, one of the most expensive new signings in the club’s history. In contrast, runners-up Hamburger SV are relying on well-known players on loan and are thus keeping up with the league trend of relying more on loan deals.

On the last day of the transfer period, league leaders Darmstadt announced the signing of Stojilkovic. According to media reports, the Hessians will transfer around two million euros to Swiss club FC Sion for the attacker, whose contract runs until 2027. Stojilkovic would thus be the most expensive purchase in the club’s history after Roman Bezjak, who came from HNK Rijeka in 2016 for a similar amount.

HSV, on the other hand, is hoping for the support of the three loan players Javi Montero (Besiktas Istanbul), Noah Katterbach (1. FC Köln) and Andras Nemeth (KRC Genk) in the fight for promotion. Only 1. FC Nürnberg have presented even more new arrivals so far, signing Benjamin Goller (Werder Bremen), Jannes Horn (VfL Bochum), Florian Flick (FC Schalke 04), Peter Vindahl Jensen (AZ Alkmaar) and Danny Blum. With the exception of Goller and Blum, who had previously been without a club, they are all on loan. On the other hand, the only player to leave is Manuel Wintzheimer, who will be loaned out to Eintracht Braunschweig.

SV Sandhausen, who are in danger of relegation, also had to take major action. In addition to the former Stuttgart player Hamadi Al Ghaddioui (FC Pafos/Cyprus), three players were loaned out and three players left. With a total of seven transfers, Sandhausen, together with promoted 1. FC Kaiserslautern (three additions/four departures), are at the top of the list in terms of the number of winter transfers.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, Arminia Bielefeld occupies the top spot with the most transfers. The additions of Armin Greisl (SCR Altach, on loan), Christian Schepp (Blau-Weiß Lohne) and Theo Corbeanu (Wolves U21, on loan) are offset by the departures of Vladislav Cherny (SC Wiedenbrück, on loan), Mateo Klimowicz (loan from Stuttgart ended) and Stefanos Kapino (Miedz Legnica). SC Paderborn have signed Niclas Nadj from SC Weiche Flehensburg and loaned Bashir Humphreys from Chelsea FC, Adrian Gryszkiewicz has returned to his Polish homeland to join Rakow.

Fortuna Düsseldorf refrained from making any moves shortly before the transfer deadline. There is (so far) no new player, Dawid Kownacki, who was also rumoured to make an immediate move after his departure was fixed in the summer, will stay until the end of the season, Nana Ampomah’s contract and the loan of Kwadwo Baah (FC Watford) could still be terminated.