Stuttgart land Sauer as Dortmund strike a near-record deal for Karetsas
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Stuttgart officially signed Slovakia attacker Leo Sauer from Feyenoord, with the 20-year-old joining for a reported €12.5m plus bonuses on a contract to 2031, according to Bundesliga.com. Stuttgart edged regional rivals Hoffenheim to the signing, adding a highly rated forward to their attack for the new season.
Borussia Dortmund reached a basic agreement with KRC Genk for Greece attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, with reports putting the fee at around €30m and potentially rising toward €32–33m with bonuses — a figure that would rank among the club's most expensive signings, according to Get German Football News. Sporting chief Lars Ricken is said to have confirmed the agreement, with the 18-year-old set for a five-year deal; treat it as agreed and being finalised rather than officially completed.
Transfer and squad notes
Dortmund's parallel pursuit of 1. FC Köln forward Said El Mala has cooled, with reports the club now has doubts and the valuation gap — a Dortmund package of roughly €42m against Köln's €50m demand — remains unresolved, according to Bavarian Football Works. Köln are said to be keeping the door open, but no breakthrough has been reached.
RB Leipzig advanced on two additions, reported to have agreed personal terms with Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri while closing on Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani, according to BuliNews. Both moves are said to hinge on outgoings first, with the club needing to trim its squad before finalising, so neither is done.
Dortmund's incomings are being funded in part by sales, with the €29m departure of Karim Adeyemi to Barcelona helping bankroll their reshaped attack, according to Yahoo Sports. The two-way business underlines a summer of turnover at Signal Iduna Park.
What it means for the league
Dortmund are the division's busiest movers, cashing in on Adeyemi while agreeing a near-record fee for Karetsas and weighing whether to persist with El Mala. Stuttgart, meanwhile, moved decisively for Sauer, and Leipzig are lining up midfield and attacking reinforcements once they create space. With Bayern's marquee business largely done and the window open until August 31, the chasing pack is now shaping the market.