Union Berlin secured the signing of midfielder Kastriot Imeri on transfer deadline day, fulfilling a wish of head coach Mauro Lustrinelli. Meanwhile, defender Tom Rothe made headlines with a radical haircut and a dig at broadcaster Sky, while Kicker identified a new area of concern within the squad.
Who is Union Berlin's new midfielder?
Kastriot Imeri officially joined Union Berlin from Young Boys Bern on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Swiss midfielder signed a contract and will wear the number 30 shirt. Bild Sport reported the transfer fee to be 2.4 million euros. Imeri knows coach Mauro Lustrinelli well from their time together at FC Thun, where they won the Swiss championship in 2020.
The player explained his move, saying, "The transfer to Union is a big challenge and at the same time a huge opportunity for me." The prospect of working with Lustrinelli again was a key factor. The signing is a targeted reinforcement for the midfield as the team sits 9th in the Bundesliga after a draw on the opening matchday. The current standings show Union started the season with one point and a goal difference of 3:3.
Why was Tom Rothe confused for a teammate?
Tom Rothe shaved off his characteristic blonde curls, as exclusively shown by Bild Sport. The 21-year-old Union defender posted the result on Instagram, referencing his confusion with teammate Leopold Querfeld by TV broadcaster Sky. "So you don't confuse me with Leo anymore," Rothe wrote alongside the picture of his new short haircut.
The similarity between the two young defenders had indeed led to an embarrassing mistake. After a cup match, Sky aired an interview with Querfeld but incorrectly displayed the name "Tom Rothe" as a caption. Rothe shared a screenshot of this moment in his social media post. Union Berlin's official account commented on the action with the words: "No more risk of confusion in the future."
What squad problem did Kicker identify for Union?
According to an analysis by Kicker, Union Berlin has identified a new problem area within its squad. The specialist magazine sees a specific weakness that could become an issue during the current season. Although the club signed Imeri as a targeted reinforcement and the defense has statistically conceded three goals in one game, one position remains understaffed.
This gap in the squad could become relevant in the demanding weeks ahead. Union is currently two points behind leaders Bayern Munich in the table. The next test awaits on November 21st with a home match against third-placed RB Leipzig. All upcoming fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.
What other personnel matters were settled on deadline day?
Alongside the signing of Imeri, there were also several departures from Union Berlin on the final day of the transfer window. Striker Ilyas Ansah moved to Hull City for a fee of 18 million euros, as reported by Bild Sport. Up to six million euros in add-ons could follow.
Oluwaseun Ogbemudia also left the club again on loan. The 20-year-old will join third-division side Waldhof Mannheim for the coming season, where he already played during the second half of the previous campaign. In the women's section, Union also signed experienced midfielder Lina Hausicke, who played 192 Bundesliga games for Werder Bremen. The complete squad overview is available on our squad page.
Union Berlin begins the Bundesliga season with one point from its first game and hosts RB Leipzig at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on November 21st.
