VfL Bochum 2026/27 preview: transfers, pre-season, predicted XI and season outlook | OneFootball

VfL Bochum enter 2026/27 aiming higher under Uwe Rösler after stabilising their return to the second division.

According to BuLi News, last season began badly under Dieter Hecking, with one win and seven defeats in the first eight league games. Rösler arrived in October, lost only one of his first 15 league matches and finished ninth on 44 points, seven clear.

Arrivals: Karol Mets, Daniel Hanslik, Jean-Manuel Mbom, Christian Rasmussen, Yiğit Karademir, Berkan Taz, Enis Cokaj, Tino Casali and Babis Drakas on frees, plus Michael Steinwender from Hearts for an undisclosed fee.

Exits total 17 via expiries, loan returns and sales, headlined by Cajetan Lenz to Hoffenheim for €10 million. Moritz-Broni Kwarteng, Mathis Clairicia and Niclas Thiede left for undisclosed fees, while several others became free agents or returned to parent clubs.

Pre-season yielded one defeat in six, including wins over Oberhausen, Royal Antwerp and Swansea City, draws with Ajax and Sheffield United, and a loss to Werder Bremen. Performances fit Rösler’s plan to make Bochum difficult to beat.

Competition for places should be fierce early on. Teenager Alessandro Crimaldi impressed and could feature.

Predicted XI, four-two-three-one: Horn in goal, Olsen, Karademir, Steinwender and Wittek in defence, Mbom and Cokaj holding, Miyoshi, Taz and Crimaldi supporting Hofmann.

They open at home to Hertha BSC on Friday night, having gone unbeaten against them last season. Eintracht Braunschweig away follows, then newly promoted VfL Osnabrück at home.

No public target has been set, though expectations lean towards the upper reaches. With Rösler’s first full pre-season and a balanced rebuild, Bochum should be capable of challenging for promotion if they start well.

Source: BuLi News

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”